Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
July 11, 2003

After detection of Thanga's case ,the forest department of the north east India ,has busted a smuggling racket of Sandalwood that was operating between Southern states of India and Burma through the Moreh point for the last couple of years.

With the busting of the new racket ,the entire Indo-Burma border has been kept under strict vigilance. The racket was busted in Guwahati ,the capital of Assam of the north east India on Thursday and four Manipuri youths were arrested in this connection.

Narrating the smuggling racket ,the Assam Government senior forest official PP Changkakati told this Mizzima correspondent today that acting on a tip off the forest personnel seized four trucks in Guwahati and recovered the "Red Sandalwood" meant for Burma through the Moreh point. The Sandalwood weighing 60 MT loaded in four trucks was brought from Chennai ",the sources added. He further stated that the consignment of Sandalwood routed by Barath Trading company of Chennai did not have authentic documents which was supposed to be dispatched to Moreh for Burma and the South east Asian countries.

Giving more information of Sandalwood smuggling in the north east India ,the senior forest Official revealed that Indian Sandalwood has a good demand in Burma as well as south east Asian countries for which smuggling is going on." We have concrete evidence that a section of Burmese youths is involved in this business to manage their daily life. Moreover Buddhist community of Burma generally use red Sandalwood for their religious purpose", he stated.

Meanwhile the Indian forest department has taken a stringent step in containing the mince as a huge stretch of Sandalwood cultivation has been
chopped off in order to earn money.