An alleged smuggler, who was trying to smuggle around 300 kgs of red sandalwood to Bangladesh, arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) today from the Indo-Bangla border, officials said.
34-year-old Aktarul Dalal was apprehended by BSF troops of Border Outpost Hakimpur and the red sandalwood weighing 298 kg, estimated to be worth Rs 18 lakh in the market was seized from him.
Acting on intelligence inputs regarding smuggling of consignment of huge quantity of sandalwood from India to Bangladesh near Hakimpur area, a special operation team of the BSF tracked a local engine fitted van moving towards Bangladesh, officials said.
The alleged smuggler was handed over to the local police station and the seized sandalwood was handed over to forest authorities for further legal action.
Red sandal wood is an endangered species of timber under the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) list.
