Kerala sandalwood theft racket busted; CCB arrests four, seizes 82.6 kg sandalwood worth ₹20.9 lakh
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru has arrested four individuals from Kerala for smuggling over 82 kg of stolen sandalwood. The suspects allegedly disguised the contraband as tourist luggage to bypass security checks before being intercepted by authorities.
Why it matters
Sandalwood smuggling is a significant environmental and economic crime, and this bust highlights the ongoing efforts to dismantle inter-state illegal trade networks.
The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested four Kerala natives for allegedly smuggling stolen sandalwood into Bengaluru and attempting to sell it to buyers in the city. The police seized 82.615 kg of sandalwood pieces worth ₹20.9 lakh, along with two cars and five mobile phones used in the crime.
The arrested have been identified as Abdul Rehman, Mohammed Shan, Vinu Antony, and Jaffer, all residents of Kerala.
According to the police, the accused stole sandalwood from Kerala and devised an elaborate plan to evade security checks while transporting the contraband to Bengaluru. They allegedly posed as tourists, carrying the sandalwood in trolley bags commonly used by travellers. The logs were cut into small pieces and concealed inside the luggage to avoid detection at inter-State check posts before being transported to Bengaluru by bus.
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