A TOP wildlife officer has seized a suspected quantity of the 'extremely rare' Kashmir Deer musk oil following a raid.

Lancashire Police's wildlife officer, PC Nigel Keates, from the neighbourhood policing team at Pendle, made the discovery at two addresses in the Brownhill and town centre areas of Blackburn.

Kashmir Deer, also known as 'The Vampire Deer' was thought to be extinct for over 60 years and is critically endangered, with around only 100 left in the wild in the Kashmir region.

Police said the Kashmir Deer musk oil, known to be highly fragrant and noted for its sweet and spice like tones, was being offered for sale.

Two men were interviewed under caution at Blackburn Police Station following the seizure for offences of offering for sale part of a protected species and import/export offences.

The pair were released under investigation, with enquiries proving that the Musk oil was synthetic.

The offenders will be issued with a written warning and trading advice in relation to endangered species, as police said they were fully cooperative with the investigation and offered every assistance to resolve the case.

No animals were harmed as the oil was a synthetic copy.

PC Keates worked in partnership with the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) during the operation.

Enquiries established that the authorities have never issued a permit for import or export of the product through the UK.

PC Keates said: "This was certainly an extremely rare and unusual discovery.

"This investigation into Kashmir Deer musk oil is possibly the first of its kind in the UK.

"Around 1/4 of a litre of this suspected oil was found in an aluminium container at the addresses in the Brownhill and town centre areas of Blackburn following my work in partnership with the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) during the operation."

Control of Trade in Endangered Species (COTES) EU regulations make it an offence to sell, keep for sale, offer for sale, transport for sale, use for a commercial purpose, or purchase anything which claims to be made from a species in Annex A of the EC council regulation.

This is important because Annex A protects the most vulnerable species such as Rhino and Tiger and gives police the power to take action against an illegal trade in the UK and contribute to international efforts to stop the illegal trade and protect the species.