Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) recently busted an interstate sandalwood smuggling racket by arresting four men and seizing over 82.6 kg of sandalwood, two cars, and five mobile phones.The arrested have been identified as Andul Rehman, Vinu Anthony, Jaffar, and Mohammad Shan, all natives of Kerala.The police, on July 12, received information that a group was attempting to illegally sell sandalwood near a hotel in NGEF Layout, Nagarabhavi. The police rushed to the spot, conducted a raid, and apprehended the four smugglers. During the operation, police seized two cars and 46.95 kg of sandalwood pieces that were being transported for sale without the required licence or permission. A case was registered at the CCB Police Station under the Karnataka Forest Act.During interrogation, the accused confessed that they had brought the sandalwood from Kerala with the intention of selling it in Bengaluru for huge profits. During their custody, the officials conducted a follow-up operation on July 15 at a house in Pandikkadavu village under the Mananthavady Police Station limits in Wayanad (Kerala), where they recovered an additional 35.665 kg of sandalwood pieces.A senior officer said the accused are engaged in different works in Kerala. They used to cut the sandalwood trees into small pieces, pack them in trolley suitcases, and transport them in buses as well as cars. They used to pose as tourists at the check posts and, on a few occasions, managed to evade checking. During their bus journeys, they used to keep the trolley suitcases in the luggage storage compartment.Further investigation is on. All four have been remanded to judicial custody.
