Bengaluru: In a real-life operation straight out of the Telugu blockbuster Pushpa, Bengaluru City Police have busted an elaborate sandalwood smuggling racket. The smugglers had concealed 750 kilograms of sandalwood logs under onion sacks in a pickup truck that was being transported from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh to Bengaluru, with plans to move the consignment onward to Chennai.
The bust took place during a routine vehicle inspection conducted by the Siddapura Police. Officers initially believed the truck was carrying a legitimate load of onions. However, during a closer inspection, they found 18 white sacks filled with sandalwood logs hidden underneath.
“The gang was transporting sandalwood disguised as an onion consignment. Around 750 kg of sandalwood has been seized, and four people have been arrested. The wood was being brought from Kurnool and was meant to be smuggled to Chennai,” a senior police officer confirmed.
Smugglers Used Onion Load as Cover for Illegal Sandalwood Transport
According to the police investigation, the accused — Sheikh Sharukh, Sheikh Abdul, Parmesh, and Ram Bhupal — were part of a larger network led by a smuggler named Siraj, who sourced sandalwood from forest regions near Kurnool. The gang would load the wood beneath vegetables like onions to mislead inspection teams and transport it through Bengaluru.
Police have seized the pickup truck, the 18 sacks of sandalwood, and are now on the lookout for a Bengaluru-based dealer who was expected to receive the consignment and facilitate its onward transport to Tamil Nadu.
“The gang used methods similar to those shown in Pushpa — blending illegal forest goods with agricultural produce to avoid suspicion. We’ve intensified checks across major transport routes,” the investigating officer added.
Massive Forest Loss and Smuggling Network Under Lens
Officials say this operation has revealed the growing illegal sandalwood trade between Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, which continues despite increased forest surveillance. Sandalwood, known for its high market value, is in high demand for cosmetic, medicinal, and export industries — fueling such smuggling networks.
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