Andhra cops bust red sanders gang, nab international smuggler

Seventeen smugglers including an international smuggler Baskaran have been arrested by Andhra police and they recovered 1.3 tonnes of red sandalwood logs.

Kadapa (Andhra Pradesh): Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday arrested 17 smugglers including an international smuggler Baskaran in connection with illegal transportation of red sandalwood in the state.

Police have also recovered 1.3 tonnes red sanders logs, two cars, two motorcycles, 290 grams of gold ornaments, 1 pistol along with five live rounds from the accused persons.

In a presser in Kadapa police headquarters, SP KKN Anburajan said," We have nabbed Bhaskaran, an international red sandalwood smuggler since 2016, who had formed gangs in Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts. He used to smuggle red sandalwood especially from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka."

"For the last 3 years, the accused were involved in red sanders smuggling in Andhra Pradesh. The accused also developed connections with the smugglers in Chittoor and Nellore districts and transporting the precious wood to other areas in the state. The police kept vigil over the smugglers and nabbed them while indulging in the crime at various places," the SP said.

"We suspect that Bhaskaran also has links with several international smugglers. In the past, he was arrested by the Chennai customs officers and after released from the jail he again smuggled sandalwood. We are interrogating him and further investigations are underway," he added.