Latest news with #RedSanders
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Indian Express
Pune Crime Files: How ‘Rakt Chandan' smugglers exploited loophole in Customs clearance
The Pimpri-Chinchwad police recently arrested a key accused in the red sandalwood smuggling racket busted by the crime branch in March this year. A probe into this case has revealed how Pune is an important transit point for the smuggling of red sandalwood to foreign countries via the ports in Mumbai. It also revealed the modus operandi of the syndicate to obtain clearance from the Customs Department for transporting coconut fibre ropes while secretly smuggling red sandalwood in containers. The police have arrested eight people in connection with the case. Red sandalwood, also known as Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus) or Rakt Chandan, is a rare and precious wood that naturally grows only in India, that, too, only in the Seshachalam hill ranges in the Kadapa, Chittoor and Nellore districts on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is an endangered species, protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its export and import have been banned since 1994. Acting on a tip-off, a crime branch team led by Assistant Police Inspector Mahesh Khande and Sub Inspector Bharat Gosavi intercepted a container near the old Urse toll post on the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, around 2.30 pm on March 2. The police initially found bundles of 'kathya' (coconut fibre ropes) in the container. When the container was searched thoroughly, huge logs of red sandalwood were found hidden under the bundles of coconut fibre ropes, the police said. The container driver, Rajaram Gaykhe, 37, from Ahilyanagar, and cleaner Harpreetsingh Bhadana, 42, from Thane, were arrested. An FIR was lodged against them at the Shirgaon Parandwadi police station under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Indian Forest Act 1927, and the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964. The police seized 11,490 kg of red sandalwood logs, estimated at Rs 9 crore, from the container. Senior Police Inspector Vijay Dhamal, the investigation officer, said the seized sandalwood came from the forests in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. 'After reaching Pune by container, it was unloaded at a spot in Kapurhol (a village in the Bhor taluka in the Pune district). The container, then carrying only coconut fibre ropes, went to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) and procured a gate pass from the Customs department for transporting the same.' 'The containers are not immediately loaded into the ships. There is a queue of about 12 hours to 20 hours. Taking advantage of this time period, the racketeers returned to Pune, loaded the red sandalwood in the container, hiding it behind the coconut fibre ropes. Then, while they were secretly transporting the red sandalwood to the JNPT, also called the Nhava Sheva port, via the Pune–Mumbai expressway, we seized it.' The officer said the accused would get a gate pass from Customs, then load the red sandalwood kept at different spots in the containers and come back to the port within eight hours. It is then smuggled to Dubai, and from there to countries like China and Japan, he said. Dhamal said that during the investigation, they arrested three men, Shrikant Bhilare, Deepak Sable, and Indrajit Mane, for their alleged role in the transportation of red sandalwood. 'We also arrested an accused, Najir Khan, linked to the red sandalwood syndicate in Andhra,' he said. Shivaji Pawar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said on July 10, crime branch sleuths arrested the key accused Rajendra Vitthal Shinde, 43, of Vashi in Navi Mumbai. His interrogation led to the arrest of Tausif Riyaz Jamadar of Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai on July 11. 'Tausif managed to get the Customs clearance at the port, thus playing a crucial role in red sandalwood smuggling. He operated with the fake name Kalpesh Singh. Rajendra Shinde and Tausif are the prime accused who were arrested in similar cases in the past. A search is on for two more suspects. So far, we have not found the involvement of any Customs officials in this case,' said Inspector Dhamal. Previous instances of red sandalwood smuggling In the past, too, there have been multiple cases of red sandalwood smuggling via Pune. In July 2024, the Pune regional unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 8 metric tonnes of red sandalwood worth Rs 7.9 crore from a container soon after it entered the JNPT for export. DRI probe revealed that red sandalwood was concealed behind the polished granite slabs and cement bricks. Five people were arrested in this case. In May 2021, the Pimpri Chinchwad police seized over six tonnes of red sandalwood worth over Rs 6 crores from a truck parked in the Tathawade area. The consignment was meant to go abroad via a port near Mumbai. Five people, including three from Mumbai and one from Karnataka, were arrested. In April 2018, police seized sandalwood worth a few crores of rupees, kept below the empty glass bottles in a container, from the Wakad area on the Mumbai–Bengaluru highway. Investigators believe that Red sandalwood was traditionally used to carve Hindu idols, design picture frames and make dolls, besides household containers. However, it is now in greater demand in foreign countries for producing medicines, facial creams, musical instruments, and other purposes. Investigations also revealed that China is the main buyer of the red sanders smuggled out of India. Biodiversity experts say that 'Pterosibilin' is extracted from red sandalwood to make herbal sex pills, which are very costly. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Canada News.Net
27-06-2025
- Canada News.Net
Telangana: One person arrested in Hyderabad for smuggling elephant ivories
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], June 25 (ANI): The sleuths of Special Operations Team, Rachakonda along with Forest Range Officials Ranga Reddy district apprehended one accused who was trying to sell the Elephant Ivories (tusks) illegally and seized two elephant ivories and one mobile phone from his possession, Commissioner of police Rachakonda said. The accused person has been identified as Rekulakunta Prasad (32 years), a resident of Annamaiah, Andhra Pradesh. Rachakonda Commissioner of Police Sudheer Babu said, 'The Task Force and forest officials apprehended a state gang who were transporting elephant ivory weighing 6.52 kg worth around Rs 3 crores in the international market... The accused were jailed previously, too. They came to Hyderabad to sell it. They are accused under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.' He further said that the accused person, Rekulakunta Prasad, is a resident of Rayachoti, Andhra Pradesh and habituated to bad vices, used to earning easy money by doing illegal activities. 'Previously, he was involved in a Red Sanders logs smuggling case by RSASTF (Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force) PS, Tirupathi Dist. (A.P) and was lodged in Thirupathi sub-Jail in the month of February 2025. Another accused, Lokeshwar Reddy was also arrested in the Red Sanders logs smuggling case by the above Task Force police and lodged in the same Jail, where both of them became acquainted during their stay in Jail,' he said. 'After being released from jail, both the accused persons hatched a plan to sell Elephant ivory for wrongful and huge profits. As per their plan Lokeshwar Reddy went to Sheshachalam Forest of Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh and procured two Elephant Ivories from Yanadula Tribals. After getting the Elephant Ivories, he informed the same to Prasad to sell at Hyderabad for excessive amount. Accordingly, they both boarded a private travel bus along with illegally gained Elephant Ivories and on Wednesday morning hours, reached LB Nagar, Hyderabad to sell the above two Elephant Ivories to prospective buyers,' he said. Sudheer Babu said that on the tip of information, SOT LB Nagar team along with Hayath Nagar Forest officials apprehended accused Rekulakunta Prasad and seized two numbers of Elephant Ivories and other incriminating material from his possession. 'Another accused Lokeshwar Reddy fled away from the spot. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding accused Lokeshwar Reddy. The past criminal history of the arrested individual is also being verified,' he said. The proactive efforts of the Team of SOT LB Nagar Zone and Hayath Nagar Forest officials led to the successful interception of this smuggling racket, highlighting their continued commitment to combat smuggling activities and ensuring to protect the life of animals which are endangered species, as the Rachakonda police are keep vigil in all the aspects and criminals to curtail illegal activities. The above arrests were made under the direct supervision of G. Sudheer Babu, IPS., Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda and under the guidance of Md. Shakir Hussain, Addl. DCP, SOT, LB Nagar-Maheshwaram & Sai Prakash, Forest Range Officer, Hayath Nagar, Ranga Reddy dist. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
ED nabs man for smuggling red sanders worth ₹68 crore to Dubai
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Abdul Jaffer, the alleged mastermind of an inter-state syndicate involved in large-scale smuggling of red sanders wood to overseas markets. Jaffer, who had been absconding for four years while evading multiple ED summons, was apprehended from Chennai during search operations conducted by the agency's Nagpur unit as part of a money-laundering investigation. According to ED officials, Jaffer is accused of illegally exporting 13 consignments of Red Sanders wood—valued at approximately ₹68 crore in grey markets—to Dubai over the past few years. The smuggling operation reportedly involved misdeclaring the cargo to Customs authorities. In one instance, sponge iron declared for export by a Raipur-based company was allegedly swapped with Red Sanders logs using Jaffer's network and influence. Red sanders, or red sandalwood, is a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Its export is prohibited under the Customs Act, 1962, and restricted under India's Foreign Trade Policy. The rare wood is prized internationally for its use in high-end furniture, traditional medicine, and cosmetics. ED officials said Jaffer's syndicate operated by concealing Red Sanders inside containers of legitimate goods being exported by reputed firms, thereby evading detection. 'He is suspected to be a habitual offender, with his name cropping up in several past smuggling cases investigated by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI),' an ED source said. Thursday's search operations in Chennai also led to the seizure of incriminating documents and evidence suggesting that proceeds from the smuggling were laundered to acquire land, flats, commercial properties, and luxury vehicles worth several crores. The ED's probe stems from an earlier case registered by DRI's Nagpur unit, which had filed a chargesheet against Jaffer under Section 135 of the Customs Act for evasion and illicit export of prohibited goods. Following his arrest, Jaffer was brought to Nagpur and produced before a special court on Saturday, which remanded him to ED custody till Wednesday. In a parallel case, DRI's Mumbai unit last year seized six tonnes of Red Sanders at Nhava Sheva port. The consignment, also destined for illegal export, had been concealed beneath cargo declared as granite marble slabs and cement bricks—pointing to a recurring modus operandi. Officials said the latest arrest marks a significant breakthrough in curbing the illegal trade of Red Sanders, which has emerged as a lucrative black-market commodity with strong international demand despite stringent regulations.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- India Gazette
ED conducts searches in Chennai; nabs key accused in Rs 68 crore Rs 68 crore red sanders smuggling case
New Delhi [India], May 27 (ANI): The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Nagpur Sub-Zonal Office, has conducted search operations at two premises in Chennai linked to Abdul Jaffer, who is allegedly involved in large-scale smuggling of Red Sanders to Dubai, the agency said on Monday. According to an ED statement, the accused exploited his syndicate's clout to replace declared export goods with Red Sanders during transit. 'ED, Nagpur has carried out search operations at 02 premises in Chennai on May 22, 2025, linked to Abdul Jaffer who is involved in large-scale smuggling of Red Sanders to Dubai. During the search operations, various incriminating documents were seized. During the search operation, Abdul Jaffer has been nabbed who was on run since last 4 years. He has been brought to Nagpur under Transit Remand issued by Ld. Jurisdiction Court at Chennai. After that, he has been produced before Special Court (PMLA), Nagpur on May 24, 2025. The Hon'ble Court is pleased to grant ED custody till May 28, 2025,' the ED said in a post on X. Search operations unraveled several properties in the form of land, building, flat and high-end vehicles acquired by the accused out of Proceeds of Crime which runs into crores of rupees including other incriminating materials. ED initiated investigation on the basis of a Prosecution Complaint filed by DRI, Nagpur under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962 against said Abdul Jaffer and others. ED investigation revealed that he had smuggled out a total of 13 consignments of Red Sanders to Dubai by way of replacing the declared goods i.e. Sponge Iron which was being exported by a Raipur based entity. The value of total smuggled Red Sanders has been calculated to be Rs. 68.00 Crore (Approx.), which excludes one consignment so intercepted and seized by DRI when it was being attempted to be smuggled. Apart from the above, investigation also disclosed that his name was figured out in several other smuggling cases of Red Sanders which were investigated by other unit of DRI, which attributes that he is a habitual offender in smuggling of Red Sanders. Further investigation is under progress. (ANI)
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Red sanders smuggling case: Court rejects discharge plea
Mumbai: Referring to the statement of the accused Ajit Satam that he had exported approximately 40 containers of Red Sanders to Dubai, generating a profit of around Rs 40 crore, a special PMLA court rejected his discharge plea in a money laundering case. A substantial portion of these cash profits, he admitted, was funneled into legitimate banking channels by providing the cash to one Pramod Kumar. Through his companies and firms, Kumar then transferred equivalent amounts into the Satam's accounts at Cosmos Co-operative Bank Ltd and Ratnakar Co-operative Bank Ltd, the statement said. The accused further admitted to utilizing these funds to purchase and invest in various properties and projects, as well as for the acquisition of an imported vehicle. "During his statement, he has given details of the bank, the amounts in it and has admitted about his involvement in sending red sanders out of India and how he used to do it. He has also stated as to how others have given him cheques and entries on receipt of the cash. As such, prima-facie record goes to show that the accused has been involved in smuggling of red sanders and has generated proceeds of crime," special judge AC Daga said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo It is alleged in the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) complaint that the proceeds of crime were generated out of the smuggling of Red Sanders and subsequently, it was laundered by way of converting into cheques or RTGS and deposited in various accounts and proceeds of crime were layered by depositing the tainted funds into bank accounts by projecting them as genuine and legitimate transaction. In the predicate offence, it is alleged that the DRI officer had seized wooden logs of Red Sanders from Satam owned containers and searched his house. The schedule or predicate offence is the criminal offence on the which the ED basis its money laundering investigations. Seeking discharge, 55-year-old Satam's lawyer submitted that there was no expert report to show that the seized wooden logs were actually red sanders. The lawyer also submitted that seizure of wooden logs from Kolhapur does not come within jurisdiction of the customs. The lawyer also submitted that the Income Tax Returns have been filed showing the income. "The Commissioner of Income Tax (IT), Appeal has passed an order in favour of the applicant accepting the declaration of the income by the applicant to be legal," the lawyer argued. However, the judge said that on the bare perusal of the order, it appeared that the assessee's proposal was accepted by the Commissioner of Income Tax, Appeal with a finding that "However, assessee's proposal is accepted without verifying the source of income mentioned in the proposal." "As such, the order itself is very clear that the source of income was not verified by the Income Tax Authority, and therefore, the accused cannot take advantage of such order," the judge said.
