Sandalwood smuggling ring busted
The gang bought sandalwood from neighbouring district and took it to Mumbai
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-19 03:05 GMT
Hyderabad: The police busted a gang of sandalwood smugglers on Monday and has arrested eight of them at Pahadidhareef. The gang led by a Keralite, Abdulla Kunji, 60, and his associates Mohd. Muneeruddin, 65, used to buy sandalwood from neighbouring districts, and take it to Mumbai. Cops seized 25.5 kg sandalwood and Rs3.8 lakh from the gang.
Following a tip-off the police raided a building at Shaheennagar, and found the sandalwood. “Abdullah had hired people in the city to collect sandalwood from neighbouring districts. They get the wood from Ranga Reddy district where sandalwood is grown,” said ADCP Janaki Sharmila.
Police said there are places on the outskirts where people grow sandalwood. The gang had experience in the legal sandalwood trade. But of late they have been doing it illegally, police said.