According to Sindhulpalchok District Forest Office (DFO), smugglers have been using the Tatopani route to smuggle red sandalwood, orchids, tiger parts and Chinese pangolin to China. [break] “The route has turned into a major transit point for smuggling of endangered animals and plants,” said District Forest Officer of Sindhupalchowk Indra Bahadur Prasain.
“Smugglers from both India and China have been using this route to smuggle endangered plants and animal parts. These parts are being smuggled to India and China through the Tatopani border using Nepali territory,” said Prasain.
The smuggling of sandalwood from the check post had started from as early as the 60s. Smuggling of parts of engendered plants and animal parts followed next.
Arresting of smugglers has become a routine at the check post. Now the smugglers have also started to use the Rasuwa border point.
Prasain also hinted at involvement of custom officials in the smuggling. “When most people did not even know about red sandalwood, custom officials abetted smuggling of red sandalwood to China,” said Prasain.
Related story
Revenue collection at Tatopani customs surges by 80 percent
