Sandalwood smuggling foiled

Sandalwood smuggling foiled

DILI, East Timor: The authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle in 500 kilograms of sandalwood worth 20 million (US$8,000) last week, a customs and excise official said on Saturday.

Spokesman for the customs and excise office Lesah said that the sandalwood was seized after it was unloaded at the Komoro airport here on Wednesday.

He said that smuggling of sandalwood into East Timor had been rife over the past two years due to collusion between officials from his office and security authorities. (yac/pan)