Nawalparasi, April 26:

The Nawalparasi District Forest Office (DFO) today seized 1,517 kg red sandalwood from Baikunthapur of Ramgram municipality-8.

The red sandalwood was hidden under hay stack loaded on a tractor, district forest officer Bijay Raj Poudel said, adding that a joint patrol team of the DFO and the police, acting on a tip-off, seized the red sandalwood near the house of one Amar Kurmi. The team also arrested locals Basanta Kurmi and Rampath Harijan for their role in smuggling the contraband.

DFO Poudel added that a motorcycle with Indian registration number (PAV 6127) and a trolley were also seized. A week ago, police seized six tonnes of red sandalwood that was being taken to Kathmandu by Mahendra Thakur of Baikunthapur.