Red sanders logs valued at over Rs. 40 lakh were seized by Nellore police from three smugglers travelling in a tempo near Budhanam toll plaza near Gudur on the Chennai-Kolkata highway.
Producing the seized logs and the accused before the media here on Saturday, Gudur Deputy Superintendent of Police B.Srinivas said two persons, one each from Nellore and Chennai, were absconding in connection with the seizure of 72 logs from a van on Friday evening.
Police also seized Rs. 2,000 in cash, four mobile phones, the van, and a car that was leading the van — all valued at Rs 10.20 lakh, Gudur Circle Inspector Srinivasulu Reddy said.
The arrested were identified as M. Srinivasulu(43) from Krishnampalli, near Udayagiri, S.K.Kabir (30), from Nellore and Ch.Prasad (26) from Alipuram, near Thotapalligudur.
Preliminary probe revealed that the offenders had cut the precious wood from the Bhairavakona forests bordering Prakasam district and dumped the same in their hide-out before transporting them to Chennai for exporting to other countries, Gudur Mr. Reddy said.
Special teams were being sent to Chennai to nab one Hakeem and another Subba Reddy from Nellore, who were absconding.
