New Delhi, October 7 (Udaipur Kiran): In a major operation, the South-East District Police has busted a red sandalwood smuggling racket, seizing 10 tonnes of illegally transported red sandalwood worth around ₹6 crore in the international market. The consignment was being smuggled from Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh) to Delhi. Police have arrested two smugglers in the case.

Addressing the media, DCP (South-East District) Dr. Hemant Tiwari said the operation was carried out jointly by Delhi Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Andhra Pradesh Intelligence Team. Acting on a tip-off, the team raided a warehouse in Tughlakabad village on Monday, where the consignment was hidden after being transported by truck from Tirupati.

The breakthrough came after a case of red sandalwood theft was registered in Tirupati in August 2025. During the investigation, a few arrested suspects revealed that a large consignment had already been sent to Delhi. Acting on this lead, the joint team tracked down the shipment and conducted the raid on October 6, leading to the arrest of Irfan and Amit.

During interrogation, the accused confessed that they had illegally purchased the red sandalwood in Andhra Pradesh and smuggled it to Delhi in a hidden truck compartment. Their plan was to export it to China and other South Asian countries, where red sandalwood commands high prices due to its medicinal value and rarity.

Further investigation revealed that Irfan had previously been arrested in 2023 by Tirupati Police for a similar offence, while Amit Sampat Pawar was a first-time offender. Police suspect that both were part of a larger interstate smuggling network spanning Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

The seized consignment has been confiscated, and efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the racket. Police believe the network’s main objective was to export red sandalwood illegally for huge profits.