The Piler rural police on Monday morning nabbed seven red sanders smuggling operatives at a forest location on the Devarakonda-Tummana Chenu road near Bhakharapeta, 30 km from Tirupati.
Piler Circle Inspector Maheswar said that when the Bhakarapeta police were doing regular beats close to the forest fringe areas, they sighted an SUV moving suspiciously, trailed by two youth on motorcycles. When intercepted, the inmates in vehicle tried to flee, but were nabbed along with the two-wheeler-borne youth. Two among the arrested included one Nasir Hussain (38) of Katiganahalli of Rural Bengaluru, and his accomplice Syed Khaza of R.T. Nagar of Bengaluru city. Chand Basha of Yerravaripalem mandal used to guide the smuggling operatives interested in the red sanders stocks.
Three more accused are from Somala mandal in Chittoor district.
The police seized six red sanders logs, an SUV and two bikes in this incident.