The increasing demand in the international market for red sanders has led to rampant smuggling in Rayalaseema.

Smugglers with the support of local politicians and forest officials, are continuing their activity unabated.

Red sanders is abundant in the Nallamala, Seshachalam and Palakonda forests spread over Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor and Nellore districts.

Red sanders is being smuggled out of the state and then from the country with Chittoor and Kadapa said to be main centres.

With red sanders spread over four lakh acres in Kadapa district, it is estimated that sander logs worth close to Rs.100 crore a month are being smuggled out of the state from Kadapa alone.

Red sander logs, hidden under the cover of vegetables, fruits and grains are being smuggled from Railway Kodur, Sundupalli, Galiveedu, Pulivendula and Sambepally.

According to official information, around 550 smugglers are involved in the illegal trade.

In this backdrop, police and forest officials jointly launched a crackdown on red sander smuggling in Rayalaseema and 40 persons were arrested for helping smugglers.

It is learnt that officials were engaged in preparing a list of people — smugglers, officials, politicians, — involved in illegal sanders trade.

Combing operations in forest areas are also being carried out.

Arresting labourers or transporters and seizing petty volume of red sander logs is a routine happening in the region, but invisible bigwigs are unscathed.

A few cases here and there booked under the Preventive Detention Act have also failed to deter the smuggling of the precious wood.