Foresters today seized nine tonne of red sandalwood on outskirts of Chiplun city in the district, which they suspect was supposed to be smuggled abroad.
The seized consignment is estimated to worth around Rs 1.5 crore in domestic markets and Rs 8 crore abroad.
As per a Forest officer, the red sanders were hidden inside beds which were ready for dispatch to JNPT harbour from they would have been smuggled outside country.
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A suspect identified as Is Halde is absconding.
"No red sandalwood is found in Konkan region. It must have come from either Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu. The forest department has issued notice to Halde," said Chiplun Range Forest Officer Suresh Varak.
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