Mangaluru: Mangaluru Police busted a racket operated by wood-smugglers who were planning to transport red sanders to Thailand. Police officers seized red sanders worth Rs 2.19 crore from the possession of five accused on Friday, January 10.
The accused have been identified as Tabrez (36), Lohith (35) Rakesh Shetty (44), Farooq (45), and Hussain Mony (45) from Ullal. They were attempting to transport the red sanders from Andhra Pradesh to Thailand. However, a key accused in the case, identified as Pradeep from Bengaluru, is yet to be arrested. The operation was carried out by Panambur Station ACP Belliyappa under the guidance of Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha.
As part of the investigation, the police have seized four tonnes of red sanders valued at Rs 2.19 crore, two cars worth Rs 16 lakh, a tempo worth Rs 3 lakh, and seven mobile phones worth Rs 30,000.
The accused had obtained red sanders from Andhra Pradesh in a container and had stored them at a godown in Baikampady. During the investigation, the accused revealed that they had planned to transport the goods, along with furniture, from Bunder Port to Thailand.
