Four persons were arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle red sandalwood logs from Labanyakota reserve forest in Gajapati district of Odisha.
"They were nabbed while cutting old trees with sophisticated machines on Friday," said divisional forest officer (DFO), Paralakhemundi, R K Singh said today.
Other persons in the group managed to flee after a clash with the forest officials. No forest personnel was injured, he said.
The arrested persons are K Laywa, U Suri Babu, D Nageswara and, Chiti Ganesha of Andhra Pradesh, said forester (Garabandh range) Prakash Chandra Bisoi.
When the forest officials raided the area, the smugglers had already felled an old tree and were trying to cut another, he added.
There is a huge demand for red sandalwood, an endangered species, in the international market, mainly China. It is used for preparing medicines, handicraft items, furniture and perfume.
"Since red sandalwood trees are abundant in Gajapati district, particularly Garabandh forest, located along Odisha-Andhra Pradesh border, we have kept a strict vigil on Andhra Pradesh smugglers," said Bisoi.
