5 Chinese nationals held in E. India for allegedly smuggling sandalwood

[Srinivas]

5 Chinese nationals held in E. India for allegedly smuggling sandalwood​

NEW DELHI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indian customs department Wednesday seized 179 kg of red sandalwood, 2 kg of gold bars and 5 kg of drugs from the city airport and arrested 11 persons, including five Chinese nationals, said local media.

Airport customs Assistant Commissioner R. S. Meena said 179 kg of red sandalwood worth 180,000 rupees (3,000 U.S. dollars) in India was seized at the NSC Bose International Airport, according to Press Trust of India.

Five Chinese nationals had come to the airport carrying huge bags to board the Kolkata-Bangkok Thai Airways flight TG-314 scheduled for departure early Wednesday morning.

"On suspicion, customs officers opened the bags and found the red sandalwood which was banned from trade," said the report.

The Chinese nationals were arrested under Wildlife Protection Act and Foreign Trade Act, Meena was quoted as telling a press conference.

This is the fourth time this month that Chinese nationals have been arrested for sandalwood smuggling at or near the airport. About 600 kg of sandalwood, including the red variety, was seized from 19 Chinese nationals since Nov. 15, said the report.

5 Chinese nationals held in E. India for allegedly smuggling sandalwood - Xinhua | English.news.cn

 

[indoPunjabi]

They'll be treated very well in the jail lol

 

[Indischer]

Sandalwood smuggling via air?! If the sandalwood recovered from 5 people was worth Rs 180000 , What was the cost of 5 airline tickets?

Some smugglers running a highly non-profit enterprise!LOL

 

[Dandpatta]

Don't worry, they will be released in 6 months time.

 

[Genesis]

Don't worry, they will be released in 6 months time.

5 KG of drugs?!?!

They should be executed. No patients for criminals.

 

[Levina]

179kgs of sandalwood in huge bags???
What were they thinking??
Only somebody harebrained would have done that.
From what I know such things are usually smuggled across borders via Burma.

 

[itaskol]

5kg drugs. In china we can sentence him 100 time dead

 

[IndoUS]

5kg drugs. In china we can sentence him 100 time dead

isn't that a bit extreme. I mean sending them to jail and rehab might help turn their lives around.

 

[OrionHunter]

They'll be treated very well in the jail lol

Do they serve noodles in Indian jails??

179kgs of sandalwood in huge bags???
What were they thinking??
Only somebody harebrained would have done that.

Right! Seeing where they come from, I ain't surprised!

 

[Arya Desa]

We cannot execute people as that is too savage and against ahimsa. We must just place them in Tihar indefinitely or send them to China under the guarantee they will remain in jail.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

5kg drugs. In china we can sentence him 100 time dead

Read properly. Its 5kg of sandalwood..!! Its a costly tree used for beauty , medicinal purposes

 

[Roybot]

Its funny how Xinhua highlighted the sandalwood smuggling and not the the drugs.

Cause 5 Chinese nationals caught smuggling sandalwood, doesn't sound as bad as 5 Chinese caught smuggling 5 KG of drugs!

 

[Levina]

Read properly. Its 5kg of sandalwood..!! Its a costly tree used for beauty , medicinal purposes

Its 179 kg of red sandalwood.And 5kgs of drug.He was right.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Its 179 kg of red sandalwood.And 5kgs of drug.He was right.

Oops! I just saw the highlighted sandalwood!!
Well a decade in prison is waiting! Personally speaking Indian Laws on drugs arent strict

 

[Sashan]

Oops! I just saw the highlighted sandalwood!!
Well a decade in prison is waiting! Personally speaking Indian Laws on drugs arent strict

Indian drug laws are draconian for trafficking and non-bailable. And they would get 10 years or more for certain quantities and above. Not sure where 5 Kg stands.