Kadapa police seize 70 red sanders logs worth ₹81 lakh, arrest eight
Kadapa police arrested eight individuals and seized 70 red sanders logs worth over ₹81 lakh after a confrontation. The smugglers attempted to evade capture by hiding the contraband among shipments of coffee powder.
Why it matters
Red sanders smuggling is a significant environmental crime in India, and this seizure highlights ongoing efforts to curb illegal timber trafficking.
The Kadapa police have seized 70 red sanders logs worth ₹81.34 lakh and arrested eight smugglers, most of them from Salem and Tiruvannamalai districts of Tamil Nadu.
Acting on credible information, the police conducted vehicle checks on Galannuboyina road in S.A. Kasinayana mandal late on Tuesday night. At around 6 a.m. on Wednesday, the police spotted three vehicles and attempted to stop them. However, the occupants, armed with axes and stones, allegedly attacked the police personnel and tried to escape. The police surrounded the group and apprehended eight persons, while the others fled.
The police seized 70 logs weighing 1.984 tonnes and three vehicles, including a container, an SUV and a sedan, allegedly used to transport the contraband. The total value of the seized material and vehicles was estimated at ₹1.30 crore.
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