Tirupati: In a major breakthrough, the Tirupati district police have arrested five red sanders smugglers from Tamil Nadu and seized 275 logs that have an estimated international market value of Rs 4.31 crore.
This was the largest red sanders seizure in the district this year, police said.
The arrested were M Murugan (42), Hemant Kumar (37), S Ravi (31), R Vimal (32), and G Surender (33), hailing from Chennai. They were caught at the Pedda Pannangadu check post on the AP-TN border along NH-16, within the Sullurupeta Circle, Tada police station, on Monday.
SP Parameswara Reddy said the arrests were done by a team led by Naidupeta SDPO Rajagopal Reddy.
“Around 8 am, officers noticed two vehicles speeding through the check post. They intercepted them and arrested the smugglers. Some 275 red sanders logs, pieces of the wood and powder weighing 5,388 kg, valued at Rs 4,31,07,200 have been seized. Two cars and a cash of Rs 3,200 were also seized.
The gang was known to collect red sanders logs from Tirupati area and store them in the godowns in Tamil Nadu. They used to conceal the logs within shipments of turmeric powder and transport them to West Bengal.
First accused in this case, Murugan, had 17 red sanders cases registered against him, while A2 Hemant Kumar had three cases in his name, police noted.
“Murugan had served a jail term under the PD Act and was released in June last. PD Act will be applied to all the accused,” the SP said.
