The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 40 metric tonnes of red sanders, amounting to Rs 16 crore from godowns in Oragadam, Chennai. Red sanders is a heavy and valuable variety of timber which is endemic.
Three persons involved in the transportation and maintenance of godowns carrying out this illegal trade have been arrested.
The DRI had tracked down several private godowns operating very suspiciously in the automotive manufacturing area in city.
Further investigation is underway to track down the entire nexus of smuggling. The issue of red sanders’ smuggling has attracted the attention of various enforcement agencies, particularly in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)