Eleven Chinese nationals were detained at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here today after 270kg of sandalwood was seized from them, customs officials said.
The seizure was made during the security check of the 11 Chinese nationals at the airport scheduled to board the 12.30am Kolkata-Kunming flight of East China Airlines, they said.
Customs officials at the airport grew suspicious on seeing huge luggages with the Chinese nationals and on checking seized 20kg of sandalwood each from six of them and 30kg each from the other five, the officials said.
This became the second incident within five days as another Chinese national was detained at the same airport for carrying 25kg of red sandalwood worth Rs 25,000 on Saturday. Incidentally, he was also heading for Kunming.
In India red sandalwood trading is banned.
