BANGALORE: Four Chinese nationals were arrested by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) for allegedly smuggling red sandalwood in the wee hours of Friday.

CISF sources said the men were to board an Air China flight, CA 426, from Bangalore to Chengdu in South West China. During the search, about 202.20kg of red sandalwood was recovered from the foursome . The four men were identified as Chen Fangzheng, Lin Hanshou, Xiao Qihong and Zeng Jianzhong.

The sources said the foursome aroused suspicion when they came for the checking of their hand baggage.

“While one of our officers were scanning the hand baggage, he found some small blocks in bags of one of the four men. An elaborate search was conducted and found more such blocks in the others bags as well,” they explained. The CISF officers suspected that the blocks could be red sandalwood. They immediately summoned customs officers. “The customs officers confirmed that it was red sandalwood. All the luggage of the four men was unloaded and we were shocked to find almost 200 kg of one-and-a-half-foot-long sandalwood logs,” they added.

Customs officers have taken them into custody and are interrogating them. Sources said that the officers are finding it difficult to communicate with the accused.

More information on where the wood was purchased and how long the men have been in this smuggling business will be known only after the interrogation.

What is it?

Red sandalwood is also known as Rakta Chandana. It is listed as an endangered species and is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to which India is a signatory . It is mostly found in the forests of South India, particularly in Andhra Pradesh , and Nepal. Red sandalwood is highly valid in China where it is used in a drug and also in furniture.