Sandalwood: scent of smugglers eludes Forest Department

The Hindu - Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007
Sharath S. Srivatsa
Sandalwood and ivory smuggling rampant despite tight control

• Half of smuggled sandalwood reaches Mumbai and Delhi
• Sandalwood oil is exported under the garb of edible oil

BANGALORE: The seizure of sandalwood from a well known artefacts dealer who had stored it without valid permit has once again highlighted the fact that illegal trade thrives in the city despite shortage of wood reported by the Forest Department.

"Some dealers in Bangalore have a network of agents through whom they operate. Logs change hands several times before the agents procure them for a dealer in Bangalore.

Small logs are then distributed to expert craftsmen, who are found in big numbers in Bangalore," an official familiar with sandalwood smuggling told The Hindu.

Sources in the department said sandalwood found its way to Bangalore from forests of Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Mysore and Chamarajanagar districts where it was found in plenty.

"Once the vehicles carrying the precious wood logs hit the highway, it is difficult to catch the culprits," the official said.

According to the official: "More than half of the smuggled sandalwood from Karnataka reaches Mumbai and Delhi where the oil is ex- tracted.

Several instances where sandalwood oil has been exported as edible oil have been found in the recent past."

Sources said that a dealer should secure storage licence and accounts of transactions pertaining to sandalwood had to be declared at the end of every year.

He had to procure a licence to run a saw mill where sandalwood was used as a product.

The sandalwood procured from other States had to carry "Hammer Mark" or "Property Mark" along with the sandalwood depot number from where it originated. Besides, the transport operator had to secure exchange permit from Karnataka at the first check post that the vehicle entered from the other States, the sources said.

Although trading in ivory has been banned in all forms, the officials said a few persons were involved in the sale of ivory products that were in demand, especially in Rajasthan.

Network

"The agent network is activated whenever there is a demand for ivory, and expert marksmen are assigned the job of poaching tuskers. Here again, the dealers do not come in contact with the poachers directly and prefer to operate through agents," the official said.

Ivory supplies come through poaching elephants in Kaveri Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks, and forests of Kanakapura and Malai Mahadeshwara Hills.