DRI arrests one more in red sanders smuggling case

Surat: Officers of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) arrested the owner of a logistic firm in Surat’s Kawas village for his involvement in the smuggling of red sanders wood from Hazira port on Friday. So far, the DRI has arrested three persons for their role in the racket and some more arrests are likely in the next few days.
Paras Patel, owner of city-based Jai Mataji Impex, had taken contract for customs clearance of red sanders wood consignment for Indore-based firm owned by Rajesh Mishra for Rs5 lakh. A person from Mumbai had directed him to procure the smuggled red sander logs from a godown in Vapi and deliver them to Mishra’s firm. Mishra took the consignment to the port for export to China when it was seized by the DRI sleuths, official sources said.

Smuggling of red sanders wood takes places all over the country through a well-oiled network. The smugglers had targeted South Gujarat because they thought it could be an easy escape route.

A DRI officer said, “People from Surat, Indore, Mumbai and Tamil Nadu are involved in red sanders wood smuggling racket. A huge quantity of red sanders wood is stored at undisclosed godowns in Vapi, Valsad and Surat and that there are a few logistics firms involved in customs clearance of such smuggled items. The department is also investigating the role of customs officers posted at the customs houses in the ports.”