Four Chinese nationals, who were allegedly trying to smuggle red sanders to China were arrested by the Bangalore Rural district police on Monday. Nearly 6 tonnes of red sanders stored in a shed at Pillagumpe Industrial Area, near Hoskote, have been seized. The jurisdictional sub-inspector has been suspended on the charge of dereliction of duty.
The arrested have been identified as Tan Zi Shui (51), Tol Shoi Yuan (45), Sir Yee Shai (25) and Wei Zhiliang (27). All of them had a valid business visa.
They had rented the shed to process the red sanders, illegally procured from various places in south India, police sources said. They were converting the wood into furniture and wooden ornaments that are in high demand in China. Red sanders costs Rs. 20 to Rs. 30 lakh a tonne and the merchandise was worth over Rs.1.5 crore in the black market, the sources added.
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Sources said the Chinese nationals had employed three Tibetans, including a woman, who have been taken as witnesses in the case. Acting on a tip-off, a team, led by Superintendent of Police B. Ramesh and Additional Superintendent of Police Abdul Ahad, conducted the raid.
While the police suspect that the red sanders came from Telangana, investigations are on to ascertain the source.
Cases have been registered against the Chinese nationals, whose passports have been impounded.
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