Hyderabad: The forest department's vigilance team detained a group on Wednesday for selling a two-headed snake, also known as a red sand boa snake. The gang advertised the snake for sale, telling clients that having the snake in their home would bring good luck and reveal hidden treasures.

In Nagaram, near ECIL, Vigilance DFO Sudhakar Reddy conducted a raid and apprehended a group consisting of Saggurthi Rohit, Jaliga Sridhar, Rayudu Venkataramana, and V Anjaneyaprasad.

The four-and-a-half-kilogram snake was sold for Rs 70 lakh, according to authorities. A car, a motorcycle, and four smartphones were confiscated from the arrested individuals, who were later brought before the Judicial first class magistrate in Medchal and sentenced to 14 days in judicial detention.

The vigilance wing of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest office took notice and began an inquiry after receiving reliable evidence that a person was involved in the illicit sale of sand boa snakes. D Sudhakar Reddy, the Vigilance District Forest Officer, initiated contact with the individual named Rohith.

Reddy used a decoy operation, posing as a potential buyer of the snake and apprehending the quartet in Keesara.

R Shobha, the Chief Forest Officer (PCCF), thanked the police who apprehended the group. Forest officials, on the other hand, claim that the 'Red Sand Boa,' also known as the two-headed snake, does not have two heads.

The police further encourage everyone to call the toll-free number 18004255364 if they have any information on such snake sales.