Mangalore: A container that was attempting to smuggle red sandalwood worth crores of rupees from Mangalore port was seized by the Mangalore Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officials on Wednesday August 20.
Under a company named Bercha Exim Pvt Ltd based in Bangalore, a container No. GESU 3039340 was supposed to carry soap detergents and was loaded into ‘Tiger Mango’ vessel. Reportedly the vessel left for Dubai from Mangalore port on August 9. However the DRI officials learnt that the container was used to smuggle red sandalwood to Dubai. They have seized 14 tons of red sandalwood.
The vessel had already reached Colombo, even then, in a swift action the DRI officials contacted the shipping line agency and brought back the container from Colombo.
The operation was conducted under the direction of deputy director of DRI.
