On May 3, 2023, police in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh arrested sixteen interstate smugglers and seized 160 kilograms of red sandalwood worth over ₹40 lakh from their possession. Acting on a tip-off, Chittoor police checked vehicles at the MCR Cross on Chennai-Bangalore Road at 6:30 AM and found a car speeding from Chittoor towards Chennai. The SUV was stopped and checked at the checkpoint and five red sandalwood logs were found in it. Another vehicle, which was following the SUV, was found to contain seven red sandalwood logs. A case has been registered against the smugglers at Gudipala Police Station. Red sandalwood is a rare and valuable wood species, and its smuggling is illegal. In December 2022, seven persons were arrested for allegedly smuggling 30 red sandalwood logs, worth ₹46 lakh, from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu.
was also found that another vehicle, which was following the SUV contained 7 red sandalwood logs, the police official said. A case has been registered against the smugglers at Gudipala Police Station.
In December 2022, as many as seven persons were arrested for allegedly smuggling 30 red sandalwood logs, worth ₹ 46 lakh, police said. The arrests were made during multiple raids in Tirupati.
It seems like there have been multiple instances of red sandalwood smuggling in Andhra Pradesh, with arrests made and logs seized in December 2022 and again in May 2023. In the December 2022 incident, seven people were arrested for smuggling 30 red sandalwood logs worth ₹46 lakh, while in the May 2023 incident, sixteen smugglers were arrested and 160 kg of red sandalwood worth over ₹40 lakh was seized from their possession. The smugglers were reportedly transporting the logs illegally from Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu.