AP cops nab international red sanders smuggler from Haryana

A team of Andhra Pradesh police today arrested an international red sanders smuggler and seized Rs 20 crore worth of the precious wood from him.
Accused Mukesh Badani was nabbed from Mangali in Hisar district of Haryana and efforts were being made to bring him here, Superintendent of Police, Kadapa, Naveen Gulati said.
He was found in possession of red sanders logs whose value is estimated to be Rs 20 crore in the international market, the police officer said.
Talking to a private news channel, Gulati termed the arrest of Badani as a major achievement of Kadapa Police, who were looking for him in several cases of red sanders smuggling filed in the district.

Badani was apprehended by members of a special team constituted by the Kadapa SP for curbing the smuggling of red sandalwood which is in great demand overseas, specially in China and Japan.
The wood is used for making musical instruments, furniture and its extracts also have medicinal applications.
Badani was tracked on the basis of information provided by another smuggler, B Venkataramana, who was caught last week with Rs six crore worth of red sanders logs near Chintaracha Palli village in Kadapa district, Gulati said.