KATHMANDU, August 21: Nepal Police team has busted three persons with the oil of red sandalwood, the precious plant valued for its rich red colour.
A team from Metropolitan Police Circle Lainchaur arrested Achyut KC, 53, of Dhading, Jeet Lama, 43, of Sindhupalchowk and Sujan Poudel, 26, of Nuwakot in possession of red sandalwood oil on Tuesday evening.
Four people arrested on red sandalwood smuggling charge
Santosh Singh Rathor, In-charge of the Circle and Deputy Superintendant of Police (DSP), shared that the team recovered 45 litres of red sandalwood oil contained in a silver pot from the room of Lama. He further informed that the crackdown has also disclosed the smuggling of red sandalwood in the social play ground. Red sandalwood is a precious plant which is lucrative for smugglers.
Nepal is a state party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Nepal also has brought smuggling of red sanders under the domain of legal action. Investigation into the incident is underway, police said.
