Red sandalwood weighing around 200 kg was seized from a green coconut-laden truck near Banyagarh village under the Ganbandh police station in Gajapati district and three persons were arrested in this connection on Sunday.
The accused were identified as Prakash Yadav, Abhisekh Majhi and Muhammad Asif.
Acting on reliable information about smuggling of red sandalwood in the truck, Forest Department officials, who had laid a trap intercepted the vehicle and seized the wood. The estimated seized sandalwood is worth Rs 6 lakh, said Naryanpur Forest Range Officer Jibin Pariccha. The vehicle was on its way to Gosaninuaga and the sandalwood was supposed to be sent to Andhra Pradesh.
The truck was seized while further investigation was underway. The involvement of some more persons was suspected and they would be arrested soon, said the official.
