Chennai — Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted an export container at Chennai Port between November 9 and 11, before it could be loaded onto a vessel, and seized 12.87 metric tonnes of high-grade red sanders logs valued at approximately Rs 7.72 crore, the agency said. The consignment was allegedly bound for Malaysia.

Source: DRI statement via TaxConcept

The container had been declared as carrying paper laminate rolls. On detailed examination on November 9 and 10, officers found the red sanders logs concealed alongside a small quantity of the declared cargo and gravel stones, according to the DRI. The red sanders and the cover cargo were seized under the Customs Act, 1962.

Source: The Times of India

Godown swap alleged

Preliminary investigation indicates the syndicate allegedly misused the self-sealing facility available to manufacturer-exporters: the export container was arranged through an exporter, diverted to a private godown, and the declared paper laminate rolls were replaced with red sanders logs before the container was dispatched for export, the DRI said. A search of the godown allegedly recovered the original paper laminate cargo, an industrial weighing scale and traces of red sanders.

Three key members of the syndicate have been arrested under the Customs Act, 1962, the agency said. The arrests and the alleged smuggling method remain matters under investigation.

Red sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a protected species listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and its export from India is restricted.