Maoists forced red sanders smugglers to change their route

“Because of increased Maoist movement,this route was explored. In 2007,first illegal consignment of red sanders came to Leh and taken to China,” they said.

The investigation agencies have found that arrested alleged smuggler Ringzin Dorjey is just a small fish in the racket which is being run by a Tibetan couple settled here.

“Knowing that police is keeping a watch on these activities,they tried to make it more legal by filling form 25 from Forest Department and transporting illegal wood hidden under the permitted one,” an official privy to the investigations told about the modus operandi of the gang.

“They have other novel ways to transport illegal wood under oranges,onion,cotton and floor etc. and pay taxes enroute for all such things without being noticed by any checkpost,” he said.