AP’s Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF seized 155 red sandalwood logs worth ₹3.5 crore in an operation. (Image: @APPOLICE100)
Tirupati: AP’s Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) raided a warehouse in Patan of Gujarat, thereby busting a red sanders smuggling network. The task force operation resulted in the arrest of three key interstate smugglers and seizure of 155 red sanders logs valued at approximately ₹3.5 crore.
Disclosing details to media on Tuesday, Tirupati district SP and RSASTF in-charge L. Subba Rayudu said they initiated the operation based on information gathered after detailed interrogation of two red sanders smugglers arrested earlier in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh.
“The interrogation revealed existence of a red sanders smuggling hub in Gujarat. A special team led by DSP M.D. Shariff left for Gujarat. With the support of local police, the team raided a warehouse in Deesa town and arrested three interstate smugglers,” SP Subba Rayudu said.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Uttam Kumar Nandakishore Soni, Joshi Hans Raj Virjaj and Paresh J. Kantiji Thakur. The raid resulted in seizure of 155 red sanders logs weighing 4,952.2 kilograms and a Maruti Brezza car used in smuggling activities.
The AP team presented the accused before a local court and is shifting them to Tirupati under a transit warrant. Investigations are going on to identify and apprehend other members of the smuggling network.
“We are exploring the option of invoking Preventive Detention Act against the accused to prevent further smuggling activities,” the SP added.
Other members of the RSASTF team include DSPs G. Balireddy, V. Srinivasa Reddy, reserve inspector Suresh Kumar Reddy, inspector M. Suresh Kumar, sub-inspector Rafi, reserve sub-inspector Vinod Kumar Reddy, and constables Somasekhar, Janardhan, Prasad, Ramesh and Shyam.
Disclosing details to media on Tuesday, Tirupati district SP and RSASTF in-charge L. Subba Rayudu said they initiated the operation based on information gathered after detailed interrogation of two red sanders smugglers arrested earlier in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh.
“The interrogation revealed existence of a red sanders smuggling hub in Gujarat. A special team led by DSP M.D. Shariff left for Gujarat. With the support of local police, the team raided a warehouse in Deesa town and arrested three interstate smugglers,” SP Subba Rayudu said.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Uttam Kumar Nandakishore Soni, Joshi Hans Raj Virjaj and Paresh J. Kantiji Thakur. The raid resulted in seizure of 155 red sanders logs weighing 4,952.2 kilograms and a Maruti Brezza car used in smuggling activities.
The AP team presented the accused before a local court and is shifting them to Tirupati under a transit warrant. Investigations are going on to identify and apprehend other members of the smuggling network.
“We are exploring the option of invoking Preventive Detention Act against the accused to prevent further smuggling activities,” the SP added.
Other members of the RSASTF team include DSPs G. Balireddy, V. Srinivasa Reddy, reserve inspector Suresh Kumar Reddy, inspector M. Suresh Kumar, sub-inspector Rafi, reserve sub-inspector Vinod Kumar Reddy, and constables Somasekhar, Janardhan, Prasad, Ramesh and Shyam.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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