This is the first ever case of smuggling of red sandalwood via the district to Tibet, claimed District Police Office (DPO) of Sakhuwasabha amid a press conference on Friday.
As per the DPO, police have arrested Temba Bhote, 23, of Chepuwa VDC-2, and Chhiring Wangdak Bhote, 23, of Hatiya VDC-8 and seized the red sandalwood from them on Thursday.
DSP Kamal Thapa informed that the arrested duo have told the police that they had brought the red sandalwood logs to Sakhuwasabha from Jhapa.
He further said that the sandalwood logs were hidden inside six bags in a hume pipe [concrete pipe] following a tip-off. "After the seizure of red sandalwood logs, the arrested had come to the spot claiming that the valuable woods were theirs," said DSP Thapa.
The seized sandalwood logs were being smuggled to China, as per preliminary investigation of police.
"The arrested will be handed over to the district forest office (DFO) for further action," said he.
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