The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Saturday arrested three persons and seized over 40 tonnes of red sanders logs worth over ₹16 crore from a private godown near Oragadam.
Based on specific intelligence that red sanders logs were stored in godowns in the city, DRI sleuths increased surveillance on the outskirts of the city, especially Oragadam, where a large number of godowns exist owing to the presence of auto manufacturing units.
The officers kept a watch on vehicles moving out of the godowns as they received information that gangs were exporting red sanders logs through the Chennai port.
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On Saturday, the officers intercepted a truck in Panruti area. They found bags stuffed with rags and clothes, under which there was a large quantity of red sanders logs.
The driver and cleaners of the truck led the officers to a godown from where they had collected the consignment. More logs were found in the godown.
The officers also spotted a car nearby, but the men in the vehicle fled on seeing the officers.
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The DRI sleuths managed to apprehend one person. The officers found four trucks loaded with red sanders logs in the godown.
All the logs and vehicles were seized and taken to container freight station. Three persons involved in the stuffing, transporting and storing the logs in godown have been arrested.