Kadapa's red gold: The battle against smuggling continues

The illegal trafficking of red sandalwood, one of the world's most rare and valuable forest trees, continues to be a persistent and profitable operation for smugglers in the forests of the joint Kadapa district. The trade, which fetches immense profits on national and international black markets, has been fueled by a well-organized network that often relies on laborers from Tamil Nadu.

While local observers claim smuggling activities were rampant during the previous YSRCP government due to a perceived lack of focus and the removal of checkposts in border areas, the current coalition government has made a concerted effort to curb the trade. However, the smugglers are reportedly making a comeback, showing that the battle is far from over.

The sheer volume of the illegal trade is staggering. According to forest department data from the past six years (2019-2025), authorities have seized an impressive 4,178 red sandalwood logs, amounting to a total weight of 112 metric tons. During this period, law enforcement also arrested 179 smugglers and confiscated 185 vehicles used for transporting the logs.

A core challenge remains: the raids and seizures primarily lead to the capture of low-level laborers. The "real big smugglers" who orchestrate the entire operation and profit the most continue to evade authorities, often by changing their routes and employing evasive tactics.

The problem is underscored by several recent incidents that demonstrate the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between smugglers and officials:

• September 8: A beat combing operation in SR Palem led to the arrest of five individuals on the Rollamadugu-Tummalabailu route and the seizure of three red sandalwood logs.

• June 17: In the Gadikota area of Veeraballi beat, officials arrested seven people and seized six red sandalwood logs.

• September 16: During a combing operation in the Sanipayi forest area, officials found an Indica car with ten red sandalwood logs ready for transport and arrested a person.

• Last Month: A check by forest department officials at the Saddikullavanka check post on the Sundupalli-Rayachoti route resulted in the seizure of a car with ten red sandalwood logs, but the accused fled the scene.

Despite the recent incidents, a forest department official stated that the illegal trafficking has been "curbed to a great extent." The official cited strict measures, including having base camp staff comb the forests for a week at a time. The official also claimed that only seven red sandalwood smuggling cases had been registered as of July this year, which is presented as evidence of their success. The department has also established 12 checkposts and 12 striking forces to increase surveillance on the roads.

With red sandalwood growing in over 314,810 hectares of the district's vast forest land, the challenge for authorities is not just to make arrests but to dismantle the entire smuggling network.