Forest Official and Two Smugglers Arrested in ₹1.5 Crore Red Sanders Seizure
The Red Sanders Anti-smuggling Task Force apprehended three individuals, including a forest beat officer, during a strategic raid in Tirupati. Authorities recovered 78 precious logs valued at approximately ₹1.5 crore hidden in a cargo truck.
Logistics Cover Blown Near Jyothi Temple
A coordinated strike by the Red Sanders Anti-smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) and State Intelligence resulted in the arrest of three individuals on Saturday. Law enforcement intercepted a container truck near the Jyothi Temple and Varikuntla village in Kadapa district's Avadutha Kashinayan mandal. Although the vehicle was ostensibly transporting household furniture and goods, a search revealed 78 logs of red sanders. Officials estimate the market value of the confiscated timber at ₹1.5 crore.
Internal Collusion and Interstate Networks
The investigation has exposed an alleged link between the smuggling trade and the forest department. Police identified the suspects as Sunny and Ramesh, both residents of Rohtak in Haryana, and Mallikarjunudu, a Forest Beat Officer (FBO) stationed at the Jyothi Forest Beat. Reports indicate that Mallikarjunudu used his position to facilitate the illegal transport for the interstate operators.
The operation has also highlighted a complex logistical web spanning several states. Key findings from the initial probe include:
- Evidence of mastermind involvement located in Bengaluru, Haryana, and Kolkata.
- The use of cargo camouflage to bypass routine interstate checkpoints.
- Systemic cooperation from local department staff to provide safe passage.
RSASTF head and Tirupati SP L. Subbarayudu, alongside SP P. Srinivas and Additional SP J. Kulashekhar, commended the operational teams for the breakthrough. Special units are now pursuing the primary financiers and organizers across India to dismantle the broader network.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
