RAMANATHAPURAM
The district branch of Organised Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) sleuths seized about 1.5 tonnes of red sanders logs after intercepting a lorry and detaining the driver.
Growing suspicious after finding the lorry remaining parked for long near the old check-post here, the OCIU personnel questioned the driver and found that it was laden with red sanders logs concealed under onion bags.
After questioning the driver, V. Balakrishnadu (45) from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh, the police team found that he was bringing the logs from Kurnool on the pretext of carrying onions. He was to deliver the logs to a contact in Rameswaram, the sources said.
He was waiting for a call from the receiver when the police personnel detained him, sources said.
This was the first time in recent years that red sanders logs were seized in this part of the district. The police suspected that the consignment was being brought here to be smuggled to Sri Lanka via the sea route.
In all, there were 168 logs of sizes ranging from 5 ft to 10 ft, the sources said.
Balakrishnadu was handed over to Forest Department officials, who arrested him and took possession of the seized logs. He was likely to be produced before a magistrate court here on Tuesday, the sources said.
