Among the five arrested on Saturday by the DRI in red sandalwood smuggling case includes a person who had been threatening a senior customs officer for two months.
Among the five arrested on Saturday by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in red sandalwood smuggling case includes a person who had been threatening a senior customs officer for two months.
Deepak Zare is one the accused arrested in the case with four others. A complaint was filed by superintendent of customs, Rakesh Gaur, last month that he had been receiving threatening SMSes since June.
"The SMSes started in June in which the sender used abusive language. He kept saying that he would teach me a lesson," said Gaur. He added: "Earlier, I did not pay heed to it but later the number of SMSes increased and the threats went on getting serious. I reported the matter to the Navi Mumbai police and the Powai police".
Few days ago, Gaur was called by the crime branch of the Navi Mumbai police. The police told him the culprit was Deepak Zare.
"Zare's arrest was the first breakthrough in the red sandalwood smuggling cases and hit to the gang badly which had been hoodwinking agencies," said Gaur.
After Zare's arrest, his gang leader Ajit Satam's name came to light who has around 10 cases of smuggling against him.
The major seizure worth around Rs50 crore made by the DRI could brought to light details about people involved in smuggling of rare wood.
More than 20 cases of red sandalwood smuggling were made by the customs officials last year at the Nhava Sheva port. In around 18 cases, no person was booked or arrested as there were no details about those who had booked the consignment.
Eight expensive cars have been seized from the arrested and Rs2.58 crore cash recovered from them. Five people have been arrested, including Satam.
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