Pawan calls for increased surveillance to combat smuggling of red sanders

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Environment and Forests K. Pawan Kalyan has called for increased surveillance of smuggling of red sanders by deploying drones and other latest technologies and strict action against those looting the precious wood.

He ordered that the kingpins be arrested to stop illegal activities.

Addressing a review meeting on the conservation of red sanders at his camp office on Thursday, Mr. Kalyan ordered that efforts be made to source smuggled timber from anywhere in the country and that the networks of smugglers be dismantled to their roots through a zero-tolerance approach.

Officials informed the deputy minister that 506 cases were registered, 1,239 people were arrested and 372 vehicles were seized in the last two years. Besides, 12 kingpins have been booked under the Preventive Detention Act, they said.

Nearly 36 tonnes of smuggled red sandalwood stored in Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were seized through joint operations with the forest and police departments of these states.

Published – 23 Jul 2026 22:37 IST