The Ariyur police seized 13 logs of beefwood, which weighs around 500 kgs, from a SUV during a routine vehicle check near a police check post at Ariyur village in Vellore.
The Ariyur police seized 13 logs of beefwood, which weighs around 500 kgs, from a SUV during a routine vehicle check near a police check post at Ariyur village in Vellore.
Police said as part of surveillance against banned tobacco products and ganja, a police team led by Inspector S. Nagaraj were checking vehicles near the checkpost when they noticed a SUV was parked on the extreme end of Ariyur Main Road. Three persons got down from the vehicle and fled the spot.
Immediately, the police team rushed to the spot and checked the vehicle. The rear portion of the vehicle was empty without seats. It was modified with a metal sheet. Police removed the metal sheet and found wooden logs of beefwood, which was concealed in it.
Based on alert, forest officials rushed to the spot to ascertain the type of wood. They found smuggled logs of beefwood. Forest officials said that as the colour and texture of the smuggled wood resembles red sanders, smugglers might have mistaken it as red sanders and planned it to sell for high cost in black market. A case was registered. A probe is underway.
Published – February 23, 2025 12:13 am IST