Tirupur: DRI officers seized about 11.46 MT of Red Sanders logs valued at approximately Rs. 5 crores from a private godown in Tirupur.
Tirupur: DRI officers seized about 11.46 MT of Red Sanders logs valued at approximately Rs. 5 crores from a private godown in Tirupur.
Based on specific intelligence, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Coimbatore seized about 11.46 MT of Red Sanders logs from a private godown near Tirupur, along with documents indicating that the goods were being prepared to be smuggled out of India. In a coordinated effort, the officers intercepted a truck carrying approximately 2 MTs of Red Sanders logs loaded with a cover cargo of vegetables. Further investigation led the officers to a nearby godown where another 9.4 MTs of Red Sanders logs were found concealed along with some export-related documents.
Initially, three persons including the driver who had complete knowledge of the smuggling plot and was hand in glove with the two financiers were arrested. Later, within hours, four others who are allegedly the mastermind behind the entire smuggling plot were apprehended. Two of the arrested had earlier been involved in a case of wildlife smuggling and being investigated by the MZU. Further investigation is in progress.
A truck with Red Sanders logs and two passenger cars were also seized. The police arrested S I Mubarak (47), V Kannan alias Karthik (25), Udhuman Farook (33), Syed Abdul Kasim (36), Abdul Rahman (39) and Thameem Ansari (36). Further investigation is underway.