Hyderabad: Interpol has issued a “purple notice” about international red sanders smuggling from AP. Purple notices have been issued to 190 member countries seeking information on modus operandi, objects, devices and concealment methods used by criminals. Interpol, in the notice, stated that smuggling of red sanders was on the rise and it required coordinated international action to identify individuals and networks involved in the illegal trade and take coordinated enforcement response.
Red sanders is an endemic species to AP and has heavy demand in East and Southeast Asian countries, especially in China and Japan. The notice was issued based on a request of the AP police via the CBI.
Interpol stated: “Enforcement agencies in India are regularly intercepting red sanders consignments at various customs ports, airports, foreign post offices, and areas near international borders. Investigation into these cases revealed that the consignments were being smuggled out of the country. Over the years trans-border smuggling of red sanders has become highly organised.”
It said: “The criminal networks use locals around its natural habitat to illegally cut red sanders trees from forests. The stocks are transported to places near port / airport cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Mangalore, Kolkata etc.”
