Bengaluru: Police bust sandalwood smuggling racket, seize wood worth Rs. 3cr

Police on Saturday nabbed a gang of sandalwood smugglers and seized four tonnes of wood worth more than Rs. 3 crore. "The consignment was being taken to Mumbai and Chennai ports via Bengaluru. It was to be smuggled to countries including China, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Vietnam," said ACP Alok Kumar.

The inter-state gang operated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Maharashtra, said, Kumar. "We have arrested the kingpin of sandalwood smuggling in this region Abdul Rashid alias Puttur and his associates from Bengaluru and Mangalore," he added.

Police have registered a case against the accused and are in search of more people part of this gang in Madurai, Mumbai, and Chennai said, Kumar. Further investigation in this matter is underway. (ANI)