Ten tonnes of red sandalwood, whose value is estimated at Rs five crore, was seized and four persons were arrested on a National Highway, about 60 kms from here today, a senior police official said.
Police intercepted a lorry and two cars on specific information and seized the sandalwood which was being transported to Haryana, Superintendent of Police Ravikante Gowda told reporters here.
The cars were used as escort and pilot vehicle to the lorry, which was carrying survey poles with pass, but had concealed red sandalwood, he said.
The lorry driver Gurumeet Singh from Patiala, Yusufr Masood from Kasargod in Kerala, Rashid Abbas and Momammed Sherif Hussain, both from Dakhsina Kannada district in Karnataka, were arrested, he said.
The main accused travelling in a car is at large and a search is on to trace him, the SP said.
