KADAPA: An international red sanders smuggler, Mukesh Badani, was nabbed by the Kadapa district police from Hisar district, Haryana and red sanders logs worth about `20 crore were seized from him on Saturday.
According to sources, the district police, who formed two special teams to tighten the noose around red sanders smugglers, got information about the Hisar-based Mukesh Badani during the questioning of Bodde Venkataramana, who has international smuggling links, and also from some other smugglers arrested, earlier.
Venkataramana was nabbed at Chintarajupalle in Vontimitta mandal of Kadapa district on May 4.
The police learnt that Badani maintained good relations with the red sanders smugglers from the district and used to procure stocks from them and export these to Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and other countries.
Armed with the info, two special police teams led by Rajampet Deputy Superintendent of Police Aravind Babu went to Haryana and caught Mukesh Badani after conducting raids in Mangali area in Hisar district.
The police teams also raided a red sanders stock yard containing six tonnes of logs worth around `20 crore.
Arrangements are being made to bring Badani as well as the seized logs back home.Cases relating to illegal transportation of red sanders logs are pending against Badani in the Railway Kodur and Badvel police stations.