Smuggling hidden in onion sacks: four arrested for transporting 750 kg of sandalwood
Bengaluru : In a movie-style smuggling operation, Siddapur police arrested four men from Andhra Pradesh for illegally transporting sandalwood hidden among onion sacks in a goods vehicle.
The accused—Sheikh Abdul Kalam (47), Ram Bhupal (40), Sheikh Sharuq (31), and Paramesh (30)—were intercepted near Someshwaranagar Arch around 12:30 a.m. on October 16 after behaving suspiciously.
Acting on a tip-off, the police swiftly launched an operation, seizing 750 kilograms of sandalwood packed into 18 sacks, along with a goods carrier and a car used in the operation.
The accused had allegedly smuggled the sandalwood pieces from Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, into Karnataka. To avoid detection, they cleverly concealed the 258 sandalwood blocks beneath onion sacks inside the vehicle.
Sheikh Sharuq was reportedly driving the goods carrier, while the remaining three followed closely behind in a car to monitor police movements and provide support if needed.
Police officials said the operation appeared to be part of a larger smuggling network. Investigations are underway to trace the buyers and suppliers involved in the racket. The seized sandalwood has been handed over to the forest department for further verification.
Siddapur police have registered a case and intensified checks on goods vehicles passing through forested areas, suspecting similar operations may be active across the region.
