In the last week alone, city police and forest department, in four separate cases, recovered 16 tonnes of red sanders worth Rs 47 crore, which reiterated their suspicion that Bengaluru is a hub for smuggling the commodity to China and Japan.
Red sanders is found in Sheshachalam forest of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Its trade is regulated under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi said that smuggling of the wood increased after it found a huge market in China and Japan. The wood has medicinal value and is used extensively in organic cosmetics and to make furniture.
It was earlier being smuggled out of India through Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chennai ports, but smugglers shifted to Mumbai and Mangaluru ports following strict vigilance along the east coast, according to Mr. Reddi. Officials say it is now being routed through Bengaluru via National Highway 4.
CCB sleuths have busted two gangs from the State, who worked as intermediaries in the smuggling trade. They would purchase the wood for around Rs 2,000 a tonne from woodcutters and sell it to gangs in Mumbai for Rs 8,000 a tonne. From Mumbai, it would be smuggled to China where it can fetch anywhere between Rs. 30,000 to a lakh a tonne.
Interestingly, most of the gang members arrested by CCB were earlier involved in sandalwood smuggling, especially in Hosakote. One of the gangs was led by Abdul Rehman (49), a resident of Sira in Tumakuru district. He owns a beedi company, which is used as a front for the smuggling operation. The second gang operates from Kattigenahalli, Hosakote.
In the last one week, the CCB had recovered a total of 12.13 tonnes of red sanders, estimated to be worth Rs 36.41 crore in the international market.
On Thursday, forest department officials intercepted a tempo near Hosakote and found 3.8 tonnes of red sanders worth Rs 11 crore.
"Preliminary investigations have revealed that the wood is cut into small pieces, made into rough furniture like tables and chairs before being painted and exported through Mumbai port. The gangs, now busted, have links with both wood cutters in Andhra Pradesh and smugglers in Mumbai," said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Hemanth Nimbalkar.
Chinese kingpinMr. Reddi said that the preliminary probe has revealed that a Chinese national is the kingpin of the smuggling ring. The police is considering requesting a red corner notice against the suspect.
