The Unit XI crime branch of Kandivali have seized sandalwood worth Rs. 2.5 crore which was being smuggled to Dubai via the Navi Mumbai JNPT port on Friday evening.
The Sandalwood brought from Andhra Pradesh by trucks through illegal means was being taken through Kandivali when the police reached the spot and searched the vehicles and found the precious wood. The police arrested the driver of the vehicle, Angad Kumar Jaiswal (23).
According to Dattaray Shinde, DCP of unit XI Crime Branch they had received prior information that a truck containing the precious wood would pass through the area on Friday evening. On acting on the information at around 5.00pm they spotted a truck and on checking it thoroughly they found some marble slabs at the back of it. On searching them they discovered pieces of sandalwood of around six feet height.
When the police interrogated the driver they found out that another truck carrying similar consignment had already reached Kalamboli in Navy Mumbai. When they went there the police found the second truck and arrested its driver Mohammad Khan (23) and seized 30 tons of sandalwood from there.
"We have arrested the duo on the charges of smuggling, they have been remanded to police custody till January 19," said Shinde.
"This consignment was meant to be shipped off to Dubai but the police reached there on time and arrested them. Their interrogation is on and we are trying to find out the bigger players in the smuggling," added Shinde.
{{/usCountry}}"This consignment was meant to be shipped off to Dubai but the police reached there on time and arrested them. Their interrogation is on and we are trying to find out the bigger players in the smuggling," added Shinde.
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