Onion bags, sandalwood secrets: Bengaluru police bust 'Pushpa-Style' smuggling racket

A gang tried to outsmart the cops by hiding costly sandalwood logs beneath onion sacks in a tempo, but their 'Pushpa-style' smuggling plot was busted by Siddapur police before reaching Bengaluru.

Move aside, Pushpa! A real-life sandalwood smuggling drama has unfolded in Karnataka. In a scene straight out of the blockbuster film Pushpa: The Rise, Siddapur police busted a gang that attempted to transport 790 kilograms of sandalwood cleverly hidden beneath sacks of onions in a tempo.

Also Read:Tejasvi Surya seeks meet with DK Shivakumar, presents ‘Alternative Plan’ to counter tunnel road project

According to police, the gang had sourced the sandalwood from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district and was en route to Bengaluru, allegedly for illegal export to China. Acting on a tip-off from an informant named Siraj, police intercepted the vehicle before it could reach its destination.

When officers began inspection, they were greeted by layers of onion sacks stacked neatly at the top. But a deeper probe revealed the real cargo, 18 sandalwood logs concealed beneath the vegetable load. The sheer ingenuity of the smuggling plan left even seasoned officers surprised.

Also Read:“Bengaluru’s traffic has been stolen”: Actor Ashish Vidyarthi jokes as roads turn empty during festive break

Three individuals were arrested on the spot, and the tempo was seized. Police suspect the operation may be part of a larger network with international links. Investigations are underway to trace the masterminds and verify if the gang had attempted similar smuggling runs in the past.