Kavre, June 14:

A Tamang family from Hokse VDC has pitched a tent at 56-Kilometre near Dolalghat bazaar of Araniko Highway and is camping there for a week. The family is hoping of raking in good money by helping smugglers take their vehicles carrying red sandalwood to their destinations safely at night.A dozen other families have also pitched their tents with similar hopes.

A group of some 20-30 persons armed with homemade weapons can be seen from Dhulikhel to Dolalghat at 10 different places.

“Twenty vehicles carrying red sandalwood passed through this week and we earned Rs 12,000,” a member of one of the families said.

As entire families are actively helping the smugglers, labourers for planting paddy are in short supply, farmers said.