Hyderabad: A Dubai module of red sanders smugglers has emerged as the key organisation running the illegal trade in the precious wood, posting a big challenge to law enforcement agencies.
Two international smugglers, Shahul Hameed and Shafeeq, are wanted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the AP police in 17 cases. Police said that Shahul Hameed, a citizen of Singapore, fled to Dubai from Chennai and is operating the network from there. He was detained in Chennai in 2004, but jumped bail.
Red sanders consignments are sent to Dubai and from there to Hong Kong, China and other destinations. The payment is made through hawala. Sources in the DRI said that consignments are shipped to Dubai from Chennai, Kochi and Mumbai in the guise of ordinary exports.
Next: Shahul chief smuggler of red sanders in AP
Shahul chief smuggler of red sanders in AP
Hyderabad: In October 2011, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 13.5 tonnes of red sanders and it was then that Shahul Hameed and Shafeeq, two international smugglers, were identified as key operatives of the Dubai module.
On Saturday Tirupati police revealed that one Balraj, who was arrested for smuggling the wood, had confessed that Shahul Hameed was the key man behind the smuggling racket in AP. Most high-end operatives are from Chennai and Kerala and they have links with Singapore, Malaysia, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
The other accused, Shafeeq, is from Thalasserry and was initially part of the A.T. Maideen gang in Hong Kong. After Maideen was detained in 2012, Shahul Hameed is heading his operation.
It was also revealed that one Sanath Kumar, an associate of Shahul Hameed, arranges the clearance of the red sanders on behalf of export concerns.
Red sanders is traded on online websites too. One advertisement says: ‘Buy Indian Red sandal wood from Dubai’ and specifies that the wood must come from Indian forests. These online ads are mostly inserted by Chinese companies. On one e-commerce site a Chinese company said it requires 100 tonnes of red sanders at the rate of 19,000 US dollars per tonne.
Several Bangalore based operatives are also inserting online advertisements regarding the sale of red sanders. One of the reasons for the wood’s high demand is that an extract of red sanders called Pteorsibilin is used in the preparation of an alternative to the sex-enhancing drug Viagra, said AP Biodiversity Board chairman, Dr R. Hampaiah.
