Seven tonnes of red sanders recovered in Nashik, four held

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today recovered seven metric tonnes of red sanders valued at Rs 2.85 crore in Nashik and arrested four persons in this connection, an official said.
"We intercepted two containers carrying red sanders being planned to be exported to Dubai on a false declaration of Indian yellow maize through Inland Container Depot at Janori in Nashik," a DRI official said.
The red sanders was concealed behind the bags of maize and cuddapah stone slabs. The other container was found to contain maize as declared, the official added.
"The mastermind of this syndicate was identified as Sujit Bapu Satam, brother of notorious red sanders smuggler Ajit Bapu Satam," an official said.

Sujit had been arrested by DRI in 2001 for smuggling cigarettes and in 2006 for attempted export of red sanders, he said.
Along with him, his three associates, who were involved in the procurement, transportation and concealment of red sanders, were also identified.

"All the four accused have been arrested and produced before the judicial magistrate," the official added.
According to the official, their modus operandi was that export containers carrying foodgrains would be taken to an isolated factory outside Mumbai, where the foodgrains would be partially destuffed and the red sanders concealed.
"For this, they had engaged an expert, who would remove the rivets/clamps of the door handles of the containers without disturbing the customs seal," the official said.

Red sanders- 'pterocarpus santalinus'- is an endangered species found only in the Seshachalam forests of Andhra Pradesh. It is a protected flora covered under the CITES Convention and prohibited for export.