Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested eight smugglers of red sanders, officials said on Saturday.
“Kadapa police have arrested 8 red sanders smugglers, seize logs worth Rs 8 crore,” ANI quoted officials as saying.
According to initial reports, the details about the arrested smugglers were not immediately available.
Andhra Pradesh is the only state which produces the precious wood – red sanders.
The latest arrest is being seen as a major success for Andhra Pradesh Police, which in the month of April gunned down 20 woodcutters in Seshachalam forests in Chittoor district.
The woodcutters from Tamil Nadu were allegedly hired by red sander smugglers operating from that state.
Also called red sandalwood, the precious wood is used in traditional medicines and woodcraft across China, Myanmar, Japan and other countries of East Asia.
A tonne of red sanders fetches Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh in the international market.