Red Sandalwood Smuggling Foiled: 15 Tonnes Seized On Pune-Mumbai Expressway
Red Sandalwood Smuggling Foiled: 15 Tonnes Seized On Pune-Mumbai Expressway
Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad crime branch intercepted a container truck on Sunday evening, seizing over 15 tonnes of red sandalwood being smuggled from Bengaluru to Mumbai.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Senior Inspector Vijay Dhamal set up a checkpoint at Urse Toll Plaza on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway. Upon inspection, they discovered the illegally transported red sandalwood concealed inside the truck. The driver and cleaner of the vehicle were taken into custody for further interrogation.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the consignment was intended for smuggling out of the country. Authorities estimate the seized red sandalwood to be worth approximately ₹10 crore. Further inquiries are underway to trace the origins and intended recipients of the contraband.
