Pawan calls for enhanced surveillance to combat red sanders smuggling

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan called for increased surveillance against smuggling of red sanders using drones and other latest technologies and strict action against those plundering the valuable wood.

He ordered the arrest of the ringleaders to stop illegal activities.

Addressing a review meeting on protection of red sanders at the camp office on Thursday, Kalyan directed that efforts should be made to recover smuggled wood from wherever it is stored in the country and crack down on smuggling networks to their roots with a zero-tolerance approach.

Officials informed the Deputy Prime Minister that 506 cases were registered, 1,239 people were arrested and 372 vehicles were seized in the last two years. Additionally, they said 12 ringleaders were booked under the Preventive Detention Act.

Around 36 tonnes of smuggled red sandalwood stored in Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were seized in joint operations with the Forest and Police departments of these states.