Drone cameras to aid Andhra Pradesh in checking red sanders smuggling

Following the Rs 2 crore bust of red sanders smuggling last week, Andhra Pradesh government has decided to use drones euipped with high resolution cameras in order to check if red sanders trees are illegally felled, reports The Indian Express.

Authorities will use the live feed to check for any suspicious activity and send forest and task force officers to the location.

The drone cameras assist in increasing surveillance of red sanders snuggling, CM Chandrababu Naidu said. “To increase surveillance on Red Sandalwood smuggling in the state and take stringent action on smugglers, the state government is planning to use drones cameras," he added.

The CM has suggested using drone cameras and static balloon cameras which will use unused (TV) spectrum under TV White Spaces Project.

Two tonnes of the precious wood worth Rs 2.27 crore was recovered from them by Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force officers, police said. Three alleged red sanders smugglers have been arrested. "Following a tip-off, the Task Force sleuths caught the trio during a vehicle check at Billupati Palli railway gate in Madhavarampodu village early this morning. As many as 122 red sander logs weighing around two tonnes and worth Rs 2.27 crore in the international market, were seized," Kadapa Superintendent of Police Naveen Gulati said.

With agency inputs