Smugglers in Bengaluru hide Rs 1.12 crore sandalwood under onions to mask scent; arrested

Bengaluru: The Siddappa police have busted an inter-state sandalwood smuggling racket by arresting two Andhra Pradesh men.

Based on a tip-off, the police team seized sandalwood worth over Rs 1 crore after inspecting two vehicles parked near a hotel in Siddapura, south Bengaluru.

Inside the vehicles, officers found sacks of onions stacked above 250 pieces of sandalwood, weighing 750 kg and worth an estimated Rs 1.12 crore.

"The suspects hid them below the onions to mask the scent," a police officer told DH.

Police said the two men were waiting to hand over the consignment to a local receiver, identified as Ravi.

The suspects, identified as Sheikh Abdul Khadar and Sheikh Sharukh from Kurnool, allegedly worked for a sandalwood smuggler based in Andhra Pradesh.

Investigators are now probing the extent of the racket’s operations in Bengaluru.