In a significant crackdown on the illegal trade of red sanders, forest department personnel in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district have successfully apprehended six smugglers and confiscated a large haul of the precious wood. The operations, carried out on Friday based on specific intelligence, led to the seizure of red sander logs weighing a total of 3.4 tons.
Major Bust in Lothuvanka Reserve Forests
Acting on credible information, a team led by Kadapa District Forest Officer (DFO) Vineet Kumar IFS conducted a raid at the Gollapuram nursery area within the Lothuvanka reserve forests in the Badvel range. The officials caught five individuals in the act of loading red sanders logs into a vehicle. While the arrests were made, three other suspects managed to flee from the scene.
The five men taken into custody from this location have been identified as four individuals from Tamil Nadu—Mohammed Razzul, D Sunil Kumar, Gana Murthy, and Mani—along with Nagarjuna from Kadapa district. From this raid alone, the forest department recovered 66 red sander logs.
Second Operation in Gorivikanamma Reserve
In a simultaneous operation, forest department teams carried out raids in the Gorivikanamma reserve forests located in the Vempalle range. This action led to the arrest of one more smuggler, identified as Nandyala Raghava Reddy. During this raid, officials seized an additional 31 red sander logs.
Ongoing Battle Against Smuggling
The combined efforts of the two operations represent a substantial blow to the illegal red sanders smuggling network in the region. Red sanders, also known as red sandalwood, is an endangered tree species endemic to the Seshachalam hills of Andhra Pradesh and is highly sought after in international markets for its use in cosmetics, medicines, and luxury furniture. Its illegal felling and trade have been a persistent challenge for authorities.
The successful combing operations underscore the forest department's continued vigilance and intelligence-driven approach to curbing this environmental crime. The arrested individuals are expected to face charges under relevant sections of the Indian Forest Act and other wildlife protection laws.
