Smugglers involved in the illegal red sanders trade might be exploring other alternatives, besides the regular smuggling, to transport the logs from Seshachalam forests.
A recent case registered with the Red Sanders Anti Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF), Tirupati, has raised suspicions over the authenticity of a trade documentation, made in July 2014.
According to a senior task force official, Rajamahendravaram DFO (Flying Squad Division) M. Guru Prabhakar, while reviewing the legal documentation, raised doubts over the authenticity of a set of trade documents, which sought the export of one lakh tonnes of A-Grade (99.5 per cent) red sanders logs to Thailand. “The persons who requested legal sale of the timber produced documents/permissions from the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Forest department officials (Conservator of Forests, DFO) of Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram circles. However, distinctive quality and quantity of logs spurred Mr. Prabhakar to register a case with the RSASTF on July 10,” he said.
