2,200 kg red sanders logs concealed in oil container seized in Kerala’s Kochi
India Today
DRI officials seized 2,200 kg of red sanders logs from a container freight station in Kochi. They were concealed in containers used for shipping oil and were headed to Dubai. No arrests have been made, but DRI officials have identified a list of suspects.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 2,200 kgs of red sanders logs from a container freight station (CFS) in Kochi, Kerala. The bust was made at the CFS named Q10 at Willingdon Island in Kochi. The bust happened on Tuesday, March 22.
The last time intelligence agencies busted the smuggling of red sanders through Kochi Port was three years ago, reported the New Indian Express.
Based on a tip off, DRI searched the containers that were being screened and sealed at Q10. The containers were supposed to be shipped from Kochi Port on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Sources said that the logs were cleverly concealed in a container in which oil is shipped. DRI officials had to cut open the container to recover the red sanders logs.
According to the DRI, the container was booked for transportation to Dubai. Officials suspect that smugglers planned to ship the logs back to South Asian countries from Dubai.
There is a high demand for red sanders logs in countries like China, Singapore and Japan. The DRI suspects that the red sanders came from Andhra Pradesh to Kochi. Red sanders are grown in the forests of the Eastern Ghats.
They are used in South Asian countries for both medicinal purposes and manufacturing musical instruments.
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