9 Arrested, 87 Logs Seized: Andhra Cops Bust Red Sanders Smuggling Network

In a crackdown reminiscent of the red-sanders smuggling network depicted in the Pushpa films, Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa police have arrested nine alleged smugglers and seized 87 logs weighing around 1.81 tonnes, along with five vehicles. Police said the suspects allegedly felled red-sanders trees, converted them into logs and transported the timber through road routes.YSR Kadapa district police, in coordination with the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force, have arrested nine alleged red sanders smugglers in three separate operations, seizing 87 red sanders logs weighing around 1.81 metric tonnes and five vehicles allegedly used for illegal transportation.The operations were conducted in the Mannur, Veeraballi and Khajipet police station limits on September 22 and 23. Police said the crackdown followed intelligence inputs and targeted suspected transportation and loading points.In the Mannur operation, police intercepted a container near Akepadu Cross Road in Rajampet mandal. Three suspects allegedly tried to flee.