Forest officials arrested a 45-year-old man on charge of illegal possession of 10 sandalwood idols at Muttathara on Saturday.
J.R. Ani, Divisional Forest Officer, Flying Squad, Thiruvananthapuram, said the accused was Nakulan from Muttathara. Nakulan is an artisan who makes idols using sandalwood. The confiscated Ganapati idols, some of which are unfinished, were around six inches tall.
The team also seized sandalwood logs and tools used for carving the idols. The operation was conducted following a tip-off on rampant trade of sandalwood products in the Muttathara-Chakka region. Investigators of the Edamalayar elephant poaching case had conducted raids in the area, bringing to book many artisans and seizing wildlife products.
Mr. Ani said efforts were on to nab other persons behind the illegal wildlife trade in the region. The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Kerala Forest Act. He was produced in a local court and remanded.
