Forest officials successfully confiscated 118 kg of sandalwood valued at Rs 25 lakh in a strategic operation at Muttom in Thodupuzha. The coordinated effort involved forest intelligence, the Idukki forest flying squad, and foresters from the Thodupuzha Range office, leading to the arrest of seven individuals.
Thodupuzha Range Forest Officer (RFO) Sijo Samuel explained that the operation stemmed from information provided by a forest intelligence staff member acting as an undercover buyer. The informant engaged with the agents and arranged to meet at a residence in the Malankara estate in Muttom on Thursday.
Upon reaching the house, owned by one of the accused, Kallel Jenimon Chacko (39), the team discovered six other men present. RFO Samuel reported, “The sandalwood logs and pieces were kept in a sack inside the house. An Alto and a Ritz car used by the smugglers have also been seized.”
The ongoing interrogation of the accused aims to uncover additional links in the smuggling chain. RFO Samuel stated, “From where they got the sandal is yet to be revealed. The seven accused will be presented before the Muttom Judicial First Class Magistrate Court on Friday.”
Sources within the forest department revealed that a comprehensive investigation has been initiated to delve into the sandalwood seizure in Thodupuzha, indicating the gravity of the illegal sandal trade. The accused individuals include Anto Antony (38) and K A Antony (70) of Kunnel house in Vannapuram, Karottumuriyil Binu Elias (44) of Vananpuram, Thekkeparambil Baby Sam James (31) of Kaliyar, Kunnathu Stephen K J (36) of Moonilavu, and Chebettikal Shiju Shine (31) of Valakam.
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