Monday, 16 December 2013

Red Sanders smugglers in Andhra adopt Veerappan modes operandi

Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
Red Sanders smugglers are taking violent path and adopting similar
modes operandi that notorious smuggler Veerappan has adopted for sandalwood smuggling.
Top police official of Rayalaseema said labour gangs involved in the sandalwood cutting
in Satyamangalam forest are also actively taking part in Red Sanders smuggling in
Seshachalam.
A top police official said ,”Supply chains, intermediaries and other modes operandi used
are exactly same as that of Veerappan. Most of the gangs are Tamilnadu based and are
intruding into Andhra area. Though the labour gangs are the same of Veerappan gang we are
still working on any of the former ‘left over’ associates of him are involved. The issue
of serious concern is that it is getting violent ,”
Forest department said that the priced wood consignments are routed to China via Hong
Kong.
Principal Chief Conservator of forests Mr. B S S Reddy said,”Most of the gangs are from
Tamilnadu. They are coming in groups in hundreds. This year alone we have arrested 3000
of them involved in smuggling. Last year the number was similar. They are coming out on
bail. We have asked the government to amend the act and make it as non bailable offence.
Shortly we are expecting government to take up the amendment,” He added that information
regarding names of the those involved can't be divulged.
State government has recently sought Enforcement Directorate probe into Red sanders
smuggling by Chinese nationals after the preliminary investigations found not only the
involvement of foreign nationals but also of international freight agencies and a chain
of middleman as well money transactions among international smugglers. So far nine
persons including 5 Chinese were arrested in the smuggling of both Red Sanders and
Sandalwood. The accused were sent to Cherlapally jail in August 2013 after court remanded
them to judicial custody.
The cases were booked under illegal transportation of sandalwood and red sanders under
section 32 of AP Forest Act and AP Sandalwood and Red sanders possession rule, Biological
diversity act and under theft section of IPC and violation of CITES(convention on
international trade in endangered species).

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