Massive red sanders smuggling network busted in Bengaluru; Over ₹1.35 crore wood seized

Two major operations by Hulimavu and RT Nagar Police uncover large-scale red sanders smuggling, leading to multiple arrests and seizure of nearly two tonnes of precious wood.

Bengaluru witnessed two major red sanders smuggling crackdowns as Hulimavu Police and RT Nagar Police carried out successful operations, uncovering large quantities of illegally transported wood and arresting multiple accused involved in organised trafficking.

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In the first operation, Hulimavu Police intercepted three vehicles after receiving specific information about illegal transport. During the inspection, officers discovered that two men were attempting to smuggle 1150 kg of red sanders valued at ₹60 lakh. The accused had removed the rear seats of one of the cars and created a hidden chamber beneath it to stack the red sanders, preparing to transport it to Tamil Nadu. The modified vehicle exposed an organised method to evade checks and carry the logs discreetly.

Both accused were arrested, and the wood and vehicles were seized for further investigation.

In a separate case, RT Nagar Police detained two more accused involved in red sanders smuggling. The police recovered 739 kg of red sanders worth ₹75 lakh from a Bolero vehicle within the police station limits. The consignment included 50 pieces of wood, each measuring around 7 feet. The arrested individuals, identified as engineering and MBA graduates from Annamayya district in Andhra Pradesh, had allegedly brought the wood from the Sundiapalli region after evading multiple checkpoints before entering Bengaluru on November 29.

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Together, the two operations resulted in the seizure of nearly 1,900 kg of red sanders worth over ₹1.35 crore, marking one of the significant crackdowns on illegal red sanders trade in the city. Police teams from both stations have initiated detailed investigations to trace the larger network behind the smuggling routes and identify other individuals linked to the racket.