A patrol team from Nala Police Post nabbed Bikram Shrestha, 24, and Kumar Shrestha, 22, of Gati VDC-9, Sindhupalchowk and Bikram Shrestha, 25, of Madhyapur Thimi-13 who were using the alternate route of Bhakrtapur-Nala for smuggling the semi-precious wood due to tight security checking along the Arniko Highway. [break]
The youths were carrying red sandalwood pieces on a backpack. The two pieces were three feet long and weighed 26 kilograms each.
Police have also taken the motorcycles (Ba 31 Pa 5501 and Ba 23 Pa 6544) under control. The youths said that they were transporting the red sandalwood from Sallaghari, Bhaktapur to Tatopani as they were promised Rs 200 per kilo for smuggling the wood.
"Police personnel at every post can now easily recognize red sandalwood and orchid after massive campaigning about non-timber forest products at the police posts," Inspector with Kavre Police Rajendra Babu Regmi said.
"Though the captured quantity is not big, this will help in investigation into new method of smuggling and we also hope to bust the gang involved in red sandalwood smuggling as we have arrested three persons this time," Regmi further said.
Police in Dolalghat last week seized a truck carrying around 150 kilograms of red sandalwood in a false bottom.
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