Probe widened into seizure of red sandalwood in Kochi

Wednesday, November 02, 2011: The probe team investigating the case relating to the seizure of 13.69 tonnes of red sandalwood logs at the Vallarpadam international container transshipment terminal here, has widened the probe.

The DRI officials have arrested two more persons identified as Shafeeq and Shahul Hammed in connection with the case. Anil Kumar, the key accused was nabbed by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials of Kerala and about ten tonnes of red sandalwood were seized from him, DRI sources said.

Kumar is wanted in red sandalwood smuggling cases in Kerala and Mangalore. DRI officials had on October 28 seized 13.69 tonnes of red sandalwood from a container.

Though it was to be shipped to Dubai, its actual destination was South East Asian countries and China as red sandalwood is used for making musical instruments, they said.