Date:24/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/24/stories/2007012417820700.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Red sanders seized

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Chennai, officials seized red sanders weighing 15.8 tonnes from a container freight station on Friday.

A DRI release said, following information, an export container was examined at the freight station that led to the seizure.

Examination of the documents revealed that the wood was packed in 420 bags and were claimed as `Calcite Powder,' to be exported to Malaysia through Chennai. The consignment was booked in the name of a Sivakasi-based company and the entire container was filled with red sanders logs.

The declared cargo was not present at all. The seized wood was valued at Rs. 40 lakh.

In a follow-up action, the officials searched a place in Tuticorin on Friday and Saturday and seized another 13.68 tonnes of red sanders, valued at Rs. 34 lakh. One person was arrested in this connection.

Red sanders, a unique tree species is found in the forests of Andhra Pradesh and a few places in Tamil Nadu. Though under the Foreign Trade Policy export of red sanders had been banned, the wood is being smuggled to make musical instruments.