"Identification of such officials will curb the smuggling activities that have been continuing, despite the clampdown."

The arrest of Forest Department base camp employees (protection watchers), who were caught red-handed while transporting red sanders logs in the Bhakarapet forest of Kadapa district, has prompted Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) to probe into the involvement of forest and police officials in the smuggling activities.

“Identification of such officials will curb the smuggling activities that have been continuing, despite the clampdown. We have a few leads and we will find out the people involved in such activities,” a senior task force official told The Hindu .

A few days ago, five employees were nabbed in a joint operation, with 14 red sanders logs while trying to transporting the same from a dump in the forest. However, other staffers is still on the run.

In yet another confrontation of forest officials with red sanders woodcutter, the personnel fired a round in the air in self defence and nabbed a Kurnol-based smuggler.