KATHMANDU: Police have arrested eight people on the charge of the illegal trade of sandalwood oil.

According to SP Rabindra Regmi, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested eight people along with red sanders oil worth about 2 crores.

Police received information that 80 liters of blood sandalwood oil was being illegally traded in Chuchepati, Kathmandu at the rate of 205 thousand rupees per liter.

Based on the information, the team arrested eight people.

The arrested include 30-year-old Sushil Pathak of Chabahil, 28-year-old Binod Baral, 36-year-old Gyan Bahadur Oli of Kalanki, 35-year-old Navin Dahal of Kandaghari, 39-year-old Gokarna Hari Dahal, 58-year-old Nilakant Bhusal of Chabahil, 63-year-old Mohan Bahadur Bishwakarma and 40-year-old Khemraj Ghimire.

The police involved in the investigation said that the sandalwood oil was brought from India. Bhusal has been identified as the key member involved in bringing it from India to Nepal.

The police said that sandalwood oil is used in expensive furniture and cosmetics.

This oil is not available in Nepal. They also brought it from South India. After receiving the information that it was brought in this way, we dispatched a team and arrested him,” he said.

The office said that the arrested ones have been sent to Division Forest Office, Hattisar for further action against them.