The Palghar local crime branch, during a raid at a farmhouse in Govade village in the district on Tuesday, arrested two people with rare species of snake worth Rs 1.5 crore. The two men have been identified as Sunil Pandurang Dhanava, 46, resident of Masvan village, and Pawan Shankar Bhoya, 39.

A team of crime branch officials led by senior inspector Jitendra Vankoti raided the farmhouse on a tip-off and recovered the two snakes, said sources. The duo were planning to sell the snakes, believed in the ancient times to bring good luck and wealth, for Rs 8 crore, an official said. He added that they also recovered materials believed to be used in black magic.