Bengaluru, 4 Dec

Bengaluru Police have seized 1,143 kg of red sandalwood and recovered three vehicles valued at nearly ₹1 crore after busting an inter-state smuggling network spanning Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, officials said.

The case began on 7 November when Hulimavu police received a complaint from a Bhatmidhar about an illegally parked car near Gottigere Lake along Bannerghatta Main Road. Acting immediately, police rushed to the location and arrested a suspect on the spot.

During interrogation, the accused admitted to illegally selling red sandalwood. Officers seized 95 kg of redwood and one car from him before registering a case under the Forest Act. He was produced before court the next day and remanded to police custody for 20 days.

Police said the accused later revealed that he and his associates had been procuring red sandalwood from Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh and selling it at higherprices in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. He also shared details of other members in the racket.

Following the leads, police conducted multiple raids, recovering 316 kg and a car in Chinnakandili village, Tamil Nadu; 496 kg and a car in Kulumepalya; and 236 kg handed over by a juvenile involved in the operation.

The accused was again produced before court on 26 November and remanded to judicial custody. The hunt for absconding accomplices continues.

Officials said the operation was carried out under the guidance of DCP M. Narayana (Electronic City Division) and supervision of ACP K. M. Satish, along with Inspector B. G. Kumaraswamy and his team. Investigation is ongoing.