KOCHI: In a major haul, nearly 2,200kg of red sanders, which were to be smuggled to the Middle East via sea route, was seized by the directorate of revenue Intelligence (DRI) during a special operation in Kochi.
The logs were seized from a container freight station (CFS) at Willingdon Island on Tuesday. Though DRI officials are yet to identify the person behind the smuggling, sources said that he will be traced soon.
Smuggling of red sanders was reported in Kochi after a long time and the seizure was made based on a tip, said DRI. They found the logs in a container that was screened and sealed at CFS named Q10 at Willingdon Island. The container was scheduled to be shipped from Kochi Port to Dubai on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Officers said that the logs were cleverly concealed in a container that is used to ship oil. "The logs were recovered only after cutting the container. The container was booked for transportation to Dubai. It is suspected that the cargo was meant to be transported to South Asian nations, China or Japan from Dubai as there is high demand for red sander in these regions," said a source.
DRI suspects that the consignment reached Kochi from Andhra Pradesh. Red sanders are grown widely in the forests of Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. The officers have traced the details of the agency that booked the container in Kochi. Also, details of the truck that was used to bring the cargo to Kochi was also collected.
"Nobody has been arrested yet.But, we have a list of suspects based on details collected," sources said.
