Inster-State Red Sandalwood Smuggling Racket Busted, Four From Odisha Held

Srikakulam: An inter-state red sandalwood smuggling racket has been busted on Thursday and arrested 11 persons of the gang including four from Odisha.

Police have seized 396 sandalwood logs weighing 4200 kg worth over Rs 2 crore, two cars, 14 mobile phones, and Rs 35,000 from their possession.

According to sources, four of the 11 arrested are from Gajapati district in Odisha, while seven others are from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Acting on a tip-off, Tekili and Patapatana police raided the cattle feed trucks and found more than four quintal red sandalwood logs. Sources informed that the red sandalwood logs were smuggled to Chennai from Gajapati district via Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

“While 11 members have been arrested, efforts are on to capture the remaining four members of the gang. More than 10 cases are pending against them at various police stations in the State and they have been arrested earlier on charges of sandalwood smuggling “Srikakulam SP informed.