Sandalwood smuggling in state still rife

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Forest minister K Sudhakaran said 342 persons have been arrested recently in connection with sandalwood smuggling and the government was taking steps to deal with the menace in the Marayour forest in Idukki district.
The minister informed the state assembly that 471 cases have been registered and 27 vehicles used for smuggling sandalwood were confiscated.About 11,800 kg of sandalwood was seized from smugglers.
Even though measures to prevent smuggling have been intensifed by posting more forest guards and arming them, incidents of smuggling still occurred in the area and nearly 800 sandalwood trees had been felled, he said.
Sudhakaran said local people including women indulged in smuggling of sandalwood.
The government has decided to further strengthen the preventive measures in co-ordination with police, he said.