Customs officials have arrested nine Chinese nationals and seized 419.5 kg of red sandalwood at the Ahmedabad international airport.
The accused were headed to Singapore by Singapore Airlines flight SQ-531 late last night.
A search of their luggage brought out blocks of red sandalwood as well as strings of sandalwood beads.
Sandalwood is generally smuggled as a shipping cargo but of late air route is being used, customs officials said.
