Bid to smuggle red sanders logs to China thwarted

20-foot container was found to have logs worth ₹5.28 crore

Prized haul: The red sanders logs were passed off as hydraulic hoses.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence on Tuesday prevented the smuggling of a huge consignment of red sanders logs to China by sea.

Acting on specific intelligence, the DRI mounted surveillance on containers bound for Shanghai, China.

The container was identified, inspected at the wharf and was found to have red sanders logs worth ₹5.28 crore.

Documents submitted for clearance declared the goods as rubber hydraulic hoses, packed in a 20-foot container. The detailed examination, held on Tuesday in the presence of forest officials, revealed that about 11.750 tonnes of red sanders logs were found stuffed inside the container. The documents submitted before customs for clearance were found to be forged.

Export prohibited

The export of red sanders in the form of logs is prohibited under the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, and its import or export has been prohibited under Section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962.