KAPILVASTU, Oct 1: Kapilvastu police have arrested eight people along with 6.5 quintals of red sandalwood that was being brought to Kapilvastu from Arghakhanchi.
They were arrested while they were transporting the seized red sandalwood from a Bolero jeep (Lu 2 Cha 1639) and a truck (Na 5 Kha 7382). Superintendent of Police (SP) Nawaratna Paudel said that a tree that looked like red sandalwood, two vehicles, and eight people were detained at Buddhabhumi Municipality Ward-1 of Kapilvastu, on the basis of special information.
Four people arrested on red sandalwood smuggling charge
SP Paudel said that while the seized wood closely resembles red sandalwood, its exact nature has yet to be confirmed. On the basis of special information, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ganga Bahadur Thapa had been conducting surveillance for three days. DSP Thapa said that the weight of the wood is 6,523 kg and 150 grams.
A team including SP Paudel, DSP Ganga Bahadur Thapa of Divisional Forest Office, Kapilvastu reached Pathhar Kot in the morning. SP Paudel said that the incident is being investigated and an inquiry has been started.
