Chennai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized 12.87 metric tonnes of smuggled Red Sanders logs worth approximately Rs 7.72 crore at Chennai Port.
The logs, intended for export to Malaysia, were concealed in a container declared to contain paper laminate rolls. The seizure was made between November 9 and 11, following an intelligence-led operation.
Investigations revealed that a smuggling syndicate had diverted the container to a private godown and replaced the declared cargo with Red Sanders logs. Three key members of the syndicate have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962.
Red Sanders is a protected species under CITES and India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, and its export from India is prohibited.
