Two Chinese among 5 arrested for bid to smuggle sandalwood

Two Chinese nationals were among five persons arrested here today for allegedly stocking sandalwood logs, meant to be illegally exported to Taiwan, police said.
Acting on specific inputs, police raided a house in Nesapakkam in the wee hours and found the five persons and three gunny bags full of sandalwood, estimated to be worth Rs 4.5 lakh, police said.
Investigations revealed that the one of the Chinese nationals has been living in Chennai for the last six years and was helping his compatriot to buy sandalwood to make fancy accessories and got in touch with the three locals for the same.

The sandalwood was sourced from Andhra Pradesh and taken to Salem through road, from where it was being brought to Chennai in a car, a police release said.
Further investigation was on to ascertain whether more persons were involved in the racket, it added.