Daijiworld Media Network- Chittoor
Chittoor, Aug 13: In a major operation against red sandalwood smuggling, forest officials of Palamaneru division seized red sandalwood logs worth Rs 40 lakh from a house in Alapalli Kothuru village, Chittoor district, on Monday.
Acting on a tip-off, a special team raided the residence of one Bhaskar Reddy and recovered 144 A-grade red sandalwood logs neatly stacked inside. The accused, however, managed to flee before the raid and is currently absconding.
According to officials, the seized red sandalwood is of premium quality and in high demand in international markets such as China and Japan, where it is used for crafting luxury furniture, intricate carvings, and in traditional medicines.
Authorities have intensified efforts to track down Reddy, as part of the state’s ongoing crackdown on the illegal trade of the rare and protected wood, which is native to Andhra Pradesh’s forests.