Six red sanders smugglers arrested in Cherlopalli forest area

The Red Sandalwood Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) officials arrested six smugglers and seized 36 logs of red sandalwood, a van, a car, and a motorcycle, at Cherlopalli forest area in Tirupati district on Monday (September 08, 2025).

As per the action plan of RSASTF Head L. Subbarayudu and SP P. Srinivas, the team including RI Sai Giridhar and RSI Lingadhar conducted combing operations under the guidance of DSP Md. Shareef in Cherlopalli forest area.

During the operation, the officials noticed few vehicles parked near Aravind Eye Hospital on Alipiri to Cherlopalli Forest Beat area. However, the people in the vehicles tried to flee after spotting the RSASTF team but were caught.

On inspection of the vehicles, the officials found 27 red sandalwood logs and another nine in the surroundings which were estimated to be around ₹60 lakh. Three of the arrested were identified as residents of Kattigenahalli in Karnataka while three others were from Annamayya, Chittoor and Nellore districts respectively.

The arrested were taken to the Tirupati RSASTF Police Station along with the red sandalwood logs and vehicles. DSP V. Srinivasulu Reddy and ACF J. Srinivas questioned them and CI Suresh Kumar registered the case.