In a major breakthrough, Kadapa Police late on Tuesday arrested Guruswamy Veer Rajkumar, who was on the most-wanted list of smugglers.
Rajkumar, hailing from Chennai, had close links to international red sanders smuggling networks, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a vehicle in which red sanders logs were being illegally transported by Chamarthi Subbaraju (45) Railway Kodur town. Subbaraju reportedly revealed to the police the whereabouts of Rajkumar in Chennai.
A special team soon rushed to Chennai and took Rajkumar into custody, and based on his confession, rushed to Desettipalle forest in Kodur mandal and seized 60 logs along with a lorry.
Wide network
Rajkumar, brother-in-law of international smuggler Kandasamy Parthiban, had contacts in Nepal, China, Singapore and Myanmar. In India, he had links with several smugglers across Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Manipur.
“Rajkumar, an accused in 40 cases in Kadapa and Chittoor districts, has remained elusive since 2014 and was arrested for the first time,” said SP Rahul Dev Sharma.