In a real-life twist reminiscent of the smuggling drama depicted in actor Allu Arjun’s blockbuster film “Pushpa”, the Tirupati Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force dismantled a major interstate red sandalwood smuggling racket. Acting on a tip-off, the task force arrested three smugglers and seized a haul of red sandalwood valued at Rs 4.5 crore during a surprise vehicle inspection near Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh on January 22.
The accused, identified as Narendra Kumar alias Mani from Tamil Nadu, Binoy Kumar Bhagat from Assam, and Vijay Joshi from Rajasthan, were transporting approximately seven tonnes of red sanders in a container lorry. The contraband was cleverly concealed to avoid detection. According to officials, the group had planned to smuggle the highly valuable wood to Assam, a known hub for its onward distribution.
While three key members of the network were apprehended, the primary smugglers behind this operation remain at large. Investigations are ongoing to uncover their whereabouts and the larger nexus involved.
The crackdown comes as Andhra Pradesh continues to battle the illegal trade of red sanders, an endangered wood species native to the state and prized for its rich red hue and high demand in international markets, especially in China and Japan. Often glamorised in pop culture, red sanders smuggling remains a serious concern for law enforcement.
Authorities have promised to intensify operations in vulnerable regions and crack down on the syndicates driving the illicit trade. Meanwhile, the arrested individuals are being interrogated to identify the remaining members of the smuggling network.