The Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) seized 20 tons of red sandalwood from a house in Syuchatar, Kathmandu, Wednesday night.

During their raid, the YCL men also arrested Shyam Agrawal, the ‘owner’ of the sandalwood and a suspected leader of the smuggling racket. The pricey wood, which was stacked in sacks, was about to be smuggled to the bordering Tibetan town of Khasa.

Along with the suspected smuggler, the seized sandalwood has been handed over to the Kathmandu District Forest Office for necessary investigation.

Minister for Forest and Social Conservation Matrika Yadav and police officials had visited the Syuchatar house immediately after the YCL raid.

Yesterday’s seizure came barely after 24 hours after a similar YCL raid in the area in which 15 tons of sandalwood was recovered.

Meanwhile, police arrested 14 suspected sandalwood smugglers in Kavre district last night. Police also recovered weapons, laptop computer, motorbikes and a Tata Sumo jeep from them, reports said.

The 14 persons who have admitted their involvement in the smuggling of sandalwood have been kept at the District Police Office in Dhulikhel and investigation into the case is underway.