Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel have seized a consignment of 500 kilograms of sandalwood, worth 1.36 million dollars in the international market.
Darjeeling (West Bengal), May 18 : Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel have seized a consignment of 500 kilograms of sandalwood, worth 1.36 million dollars in the international market.
"We had prior information, and on that basis, vigilance was heightened in three places. They were caught going from India to Nepal. One driver was caught, "said S.L. Sarkar, the Commandant of the 22 Battalion of the SSB.
The arrested person said he would cooperate with the police.
"It was sandalwood, loaded it from Shakti Ghata at the Nepal border. I did not know what was being loaded. They loaded it from an Andhra truck because that truck could not go. Only half the truck was loaded. They told me nothing will happen to me, if I cooperate and tell them masters' names," said Pradeep Singha, an arrested person.
Sandalwood smuggling is a common occurrence across India.
The sandalwood tree has become endangered in recent years, and in an attempt to curb its possible extinction the Government is trying to limit the exportation of sandalwood.
The Government has banned people from cutting sandal wood trees.
The Sandalwood genus can be found around the world including Indonesia, Australia and the South Pacific, but Indian Sandalwood has the highest oil content and is thus the most priced.
ANI