Bengaluru, Jan 20 (IANS) Four Chinese nationals were arrested in a rural Karnataka district for attempting to smuggle six tonnes of red sanders wood to China, a police official said Tuesday.
"We have arrested the accused and red sanders wood, weighing around six tonnes, was seized after a team of our special crime branch unit raided their hideout Monday in an industrial area near Hoskote where the logs were stored," a police official investigating the case told IANS.
The accused have been identified as Tan Zi Shui, 51, Toi Shoi Yuan, 45, Sir Yee Shai, 25, and Wei Zhiliang, 27. Their passports were also impounded.
"We will produce them (accused) in a local court here and seek their custody for interrogating them to ascertain if they were operating on their own or were part of a larger group smuggling out red sanders wood from other states," the official added.
Red sanders wood, popularly known as red sandalwood, is grown in the mountain range (eastern ghats) of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in south India.
"Red sanders wood, which is priced at Rs.20-Rs.30 lakh per tonne in the international market, is in great demand in China and the Far East for its superior quality, fragrance and durability. The accused procured the wood illegally and stored the huge quantity in a warehouse to convert it into furniture and sell it in China," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"Though red sanders wood smuggling has been going on for long in the neighbouring states, this is the first time we have found it in such a huge quantity," the official said.
ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, arrested in Bangladesh on charges of sedition, will have to re
Hindu seer hacked in Allahabad
Allahabad, Jan 20 (IANS) A Hindu seer was Tuesday murdered at the Magh Mela here on the banks o
Greenpeace activist Engaged in Anti-National Activities
New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) The central government told the Delhi High Court Friday that Greenpeace
Swine flu toll in Kashmir rises to nine
Jammu, Feb 27 (IANS) The swine flu toll in Jammu and Kashmir rose to nine Friday with two more H
Air pollution is still increasing in the country's capital Delhi due to haze. The air quality of
Cyclone Biparjoy: The threat has increased in Gujarat due to cyclonic storm Biparjoy. Cyclone Bip
Rave party in Ghaziabad hotel busted, 72 arrested
Ghaziabad, Feb 12 (IANS) An illegally-run rave party in a posh hotel near the police lines here
The news of the death of 121 people in an accident during a satsang in Sikandrarao, Hathras has d
Farmers closed India on Monday. Its effect is also starting to come to the fore. Traffic has been
Racism is distraction to humanity: Kanye West
Los Angeles, Feb 18 (IANS) Rapper Kanye West feels that focusing on racism is a “distracti
