Andhra Pradesh: Chittoor Police Seize Red Sandalwood Logs Worth Rs 1.2-Cr, Eight Smugglers Arrested

The police further said that the arrests were part of a special drive launched against smugglers

Chittoor police nab eight persons for smuggling sandalwood logs worth 1.2 Crore. ( Image Source :Twitter/Chittoor District Police )

The Chittoor police seized 122 red sandalwood logs worth Rs 1.2 crore in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. Eight smugglers were arrested by the Chittoor Rural East Circle Inspector K Maddaiyachari and his team. Besides red sandalwood logs, an Eicher truck, two cars and a motorcycle were also seized worth Rs 30 lakh.

The red sanders logs being smuggled weighed 2 tonnes, said the police. "Chittoor police arrested 122 red sandalwood logs worth around Rs 1.2 crores along with one truck worth Rs 30 lakhs, two cars, one motorcycle. Eight persons have been arrested and one still absconding," Chittoor SP, Rishanth Reddy.

The police further said that the arrests were part of a special drive launched against smugglers.

(weighing 02 tonnes) worth one crore twenty lakh rupees (Rs.1,20,00,000/-) and one Eicher lorry, two cars, one motorcycle worth Rs.30 lakh and arrested eight persons.@APPOLICE100 @dgpapofficial

— Chittoor District Police (@ChittoorPolice) October 1, 2022

Earlier in June this year, the police of the Chittoor district nabbed red sanders smugglers and recovered at least 100 red sandalwood logs worth Rs 3 crore while seizing four vehicles. The two accused identified as Velu and Perumal were apprehended by the police.

"There are several cases in the district against the arrested accused Perumal. He is the most wanted inter-state red sandalwood smuggler and 15 cases have been registered against him in Andhra’s Chittoor district alone. He is a notorious international red sandalwood smuggler," Chittoor SP Rishanth Reddy said, as quoted by India Today.

"He has been smuggling red sandalwood since 2014. A murder case has also been registered against him," the SP added.