Seventeen tonnes of red sander wood, worth about Rs. 1 crore were seized from the premises of a defunct leather factory near Ambur.
The factory stands in Minnur village and remained closed for a couple of years. Public were suspicious of activities going on there for quite sometime now. People saw vehicles entering the campus on Saturday.
Based on the information received a police team led by Ambur Deputy Superintendent of Police E. Vijayakumar and revenue officials led by Tahsildar Kasthuri went to the spot late in the night on Saturday.
They found the campus locked from outside. Officials broke open the door in the presence of public and inspected inside the campus and found logs of red sander trees stacked there. They also found two mini cargo carriers standing there.
Immediately Forest Department was informed. Superintendent of Police P. Vijayakumar, District Forest Officers Dinkar Kumar (Tirupathur) and Rajamohan (Vellore) rushed to the spot and inspected the woods.
Speaking to The Hindu Mr. Dinkar Kumar said “704 red sander logs weighing about 17 tonnes have been seized by the Forest Department. Their worth comes about Rs. 1 crore. Ambur Forest Range Office has booked a case.”
Forest Department is on the look out for the owner of the factory, who is absconding now. Superintendent of Police P. Vijayakumar told The Hindu that police will assist the Forest Department in this case.
