Kadapa: 17 smugglers held in separate incidents

Kadapa: In four separate incidents at Atluru, Railway Kodur, Rayachoti and Mydukuru mandals, the police arrested 17 smugglers including an international smuggler Baskaran and recovered 1.3 tonnes of 55 red sanders logs, two cars, two motorcycles, 300 grams of ornaments, 7 cell phones 1 pistol along with five live rounds from their possession on Saturday.

Speaking to media, SP KKN Anburajan said that as many as 21 cases were registered in various police stations against Baskaran in connection with illegal transportation of red sanders in the district.

For the last 3 years, he said the accused were involving in red sanders smuggling with the help of one interstate smuggler T Raghavendra Reddy of Kadapa town. The duo was responsible for axing the trees in the forest areas of Kadapa district. He said the accused also developed connections with the smugglers in Chittoor and Nellore districts and transporting the precious wood to other areas in the state. He said the police kept vigil over the smugglers and nabbed them while indulging in the crime at various places on Saturday.