A Chinese national has been arrested by the customs at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here for allegedly trying to smuggle out over 86 kg of red sanders. The accused was intercepted when he was proceeding to depart to Kunming in China on Sunday.
“A through search of the passenger’s baggage resulted in the recovery of 86 kg of red sanders,” a senior customs official said on Tuesday.
Red Sanders (Red Sandalwood), a prohibited item for export, is banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). However, it is traded illegally in the international market as it is used in manufacturing of medicinal products and aphrodisiacs. The wood costs about Rs 10,000 per kg in India and it is in high demand at much higher price in China, Japan and other East Asian countries. The value of the 86 kg of seized wood is about Rs 8.6 lakh. The passenger, who is 48-year-old, has been arrested, he said.
In another incident, an Indian has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country gold valuing about Rs 43 lakh.