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63 Smuggling in India Report 2024-25

Wildlife Seizures by DRI in 2024-25

a. Red Sanders

Red Sanders, endemic to the Eastern Ghats, is among the world’s most trafficked
flora. Its prized red wood is used in furniture, musical instruments, dyes, cosmet-
ics, and ayurveda, sustaining demand in China, Japan, UAE, and Europe. Despite
regulatory measures, the illicit trade of red sanders persists. In FY
2024-25, DRI seized 27.94 MT of red sanders in 4 cases
booked in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Delhi.
These cases underscore the high demand, per-
sistent smuggling, and profitability of red
sanders.

Case 1: DRI busts red sanders
smuggling ring, seizes 7.98 MT

valued at ₹7.98 crore.

In July 2024, DRI officers inter-
cepted an export container at
JNPA, Nhava Sheva misdeclared
as granite slabs and cement
bricks, and seized 5.98 MT of
Red Sanders. Follow-up opera-
tions in Nashik, Ahmednagar,
and Hyderabad resulted in the
seizure of an additional 2 MT
from a godown in Nashik, the
same location from which the
earlier consignment was dis-
patched.

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