Sleuths of the Redsanders Anti Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) seized more than 70 red sanders logs at Karakambadi Road, on the outskirts of the city, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The act came as a rude shock to the cops as well as the denizens, as the area that previously housed the Grand World water theme park was now a fully developed residential area.
The team led by Reserve Sub-Inspector Vijay tried in vain to catch hold of the perpetrators, who fled in the cover of darkness.
Deputy Range Officer Srinivas and Forest Section Officer Nagaraju seized the logs along with the tipper (AP21 U 7155) in which it was about to be smuggled.
M. Kantha Rao, IG, visited the spot and ordered a full scale search with the suspicion that more logs could have been hidden in the vicinity.