Cops seize 161-kg Red Sanders valued at Rs 4.83 lakh

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of the City police seized 161 kg of Red Sanders worth Rs 4.83 lakh by arresting two men near SME road in Jalahalli on Tuesday. 

The CCB said that acting on a tip-off, its sleuths rushed to Jalahalli and raided a car in which the suspects were carrying the precious wood. It identified the suspects as Sheikh Waseem, 25, of Kurubarahalli, and Syed Dastagir, 30, of Lingarajapuram. Four others—Mansoor, Wajid, Shirad Rafiq Ahmed and Rahman, all residents of KG Halli—are absconding, the CCB added. The car used by the suspects has been confiscated too. 

According to the CCB, the arrested men were transporting the Red Sanders to an undisclosed location in Nelamangala. A case has been registered at the Jalahalli police station and further investigation is being carried on. 

Of late the CCB has arrested several suspected smugglers of Red Sanders. In December last year, CCB sleuths had arrested Abdul Rehman, Lokesh and Haneef in Kengeri police station limits on similar charges. Based on the information provided by the suspects, the CCB went on to arrest Pol Singh, Syed Mubarak and Sheikh Shader in Peenya police station limits. A total of Rs 36 crore worth of Red Sanders was recovered from the gang. 

Later, in May 2015, the CCB raided a godown at Timber Layout in Byatarayanapura police station limits and seized 940 kg of Red Sanders worth Rs 28.2 lakh. The godown’s owner, a man named Kumar, was arrested.