Red Sanders Task Force nabs 15 smugglers, seizes Rs 1 crore worth logs

Tirupati: The Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) arrested 15 smugglers and seized 40 red sanders logs, two cars, a mini-truck, and two motorcycles in three separate operations on Friday.

The market value of the seized logs is approximately Rs 1 crore.

Task Force DSP Chenchu Babu said three teams were deployed to comb forest areas and conduct vehicle checks on various routes under Tirupati, Annamayya, and Kadapa district limits.

In one operation, a team led by RSI Krupanandam uncovered a group of smugglers loading red sanders into a mini-truck at Kalyani dam under Rangampet-Nagapatla section. The team arrested five individuals and seized 23 logs.
In another case, RSIs Viswanath and Vishnuvardhan Reddy’s teams carried out vehicle checks at the Anjaneyapuram check post under Mamanduru section near Renigunta. Two vehicles attempted to evade the checks, but Task Force personnel quickly intercepted and caught nine individuals, seizing 5 logs from them.

In a third incident, RSI Ali Basha seized 12 logs found dumped near KV Bavipalle village under Railway Kodur limits, resulting in the arrest of one person.

DSP Chenchu Babu commended the Task Force personnel who played a crucial role in these operations.