Aphrodisiac mushrooms seized

Indian police in Kashmir seized a US$3 million (NZ$4.24m) haul of a rare fungus touted as "Himalayan Viagra" for its supposed aphrodisiac properties.

Four men were arrested with 90 kilogrammes of the fungus, caterpillar mushroom, in the mountainous Ladakh region in the Indian portion of Kashmir, said Bhim Sen Tuti, a police officer.

They were allegedly trying to smuggle the fungus into China, he said.

The fungus is traditionally used in Chinese medicines as an aphrodisiac and for treating fatigue and diseases including cancer.

The street value of the haul was US$3 million, police said.

If convicted, the four face jail terms ranging from seven years to life imprisonment for violating India's Wildlife, Forest and Biodiversity laws, Tuti said.

- AP