Antique wooden statue seized

Chennai, Jun 24 (UNI) Officials of the Chennai Customs Docks Intelligence unit seized an antique wooden elephant statue, which was meant for smuggling to France, at the seaport here last evening.

The seized statue, weighing 148 kg, was handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India as it appeared to be very old, Customs Commissioner C Rajan said here today.

The officials intercepted a consignment meant for export at Concor Container Freight Station here. The shipping bill was filed by Niclas Fournier of France, with a declaration as personal effect - Wooden handicraft destined to Marseille, France.

On examination, the export consignment contained a wooden elephant statue, which the ASI officials confirmed as an antiquity.

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