Nellore: Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) sleuths apprehended Vinjamuru Ramanadha Reddy, listed as a most-wanted red sanders smuggler, from near Nadumuru checkpost on the Kuppam-Krishangiri highway early on Saturday.
The SEB team under the supervision of joint director Vidyasagar Naidu along with Kuppam Urban police started checking vehicles at the checkpost from 3am on Saturday following a tip-off about the 36-year-old Ramanadha Reddy’s movements.
They seized 62 red sander logs being transported in a lorry and a SUV. Accompanying the precious load was Ramanadha Reddy and three members of his gang. All the four belonged to Kadapa district. The SEB put the value of the logs and the two vehicles at Rs 50 lakh.
Police said Ramanadha Reddy was living at Vinjamuru in SPSR Nellore district. The other arrested were Gurrampati Eswar Reddy, 43, of Vellatur in Pellimarri mandal; Chinna Mallaiah, 33, of Jandlavaram in Mydukuru mandal; and Sunkara Brahmaiah, 40, of Suryappa, Atluvari mandal.
According to the Vidyasagar Naidu, Ramanadha Reddy had smuggled nearly 500 tonnes of red sanders along with another smuggler from Dubai, known as Sahul Bhai.
Ramanadha Reddy is the prime accused in the Kollam Gangi Reddy case wherein the police seized 32 tonnes of red sanders in 2013.
Ramanadha Reddy was an associate of notorious red sander smuggler Lakshman of Kolkata.
