Colombo, Oct. 18 -- A man has been arrested in the indigenous village of Mahiyanganaya with a stock of elephant pearls valued at over Rs. 30 million, officials said.

The suspect was taken into custody on Friday (17) during a joint operation carried out by wildlife officers from Wilpattu, Ritigala, and Mahiyanganaya, following intelligence received by security forces.

Authorities said the arrest came after months of investigation and led to the seizure of the largest stock of elephant pearls ever recovered in Sri Lanka.

During the raid, officers also discovered 30 elephant pearls, parts of a leopard's skin, a section of an elephant tusk, leopard oil, pieces of the karuwala plant, a locally made firearm, animal traps, and parts of the da...