ED arrests red sanders smuggler Abdul Jaffer from Chennai

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Abdul Jaffer, a principal suspect in a Red Sanders smuggling operation, during search operations carried out at two locations in Chennai on May 22. Jaffer, who reportedly evaded capture for four years despite multiple summons, was located and arrested, the ED announced on Monday.

ED officials suspect that Jaffer is the key player in a smuggling operation that illicitly shipped red sanders (a protected wood species banned from export under India’s Foreign Trade Policy) to Dubai. The approach consisted of substituting the declared export goods, like sponge iron, with red sanders during transportation. The sponge iron shipments were being officially exported by a company located in Raipur.

Jaffer was taken to Nagpur by the ED’s sub-zonal office on a transit remand from a Chennai court and presented before a special court in Nagpur that handles money-laundering cases on May 24. The court has awarded the ED custody of the accused until May 28.

The inquiry commenced after a complaint was lodged by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur, under Section 135 of the Customs Act, 1962. The findings from the ED indicate that Jaffer participated in no fewer than 13 similar consignments, with the aggregate value of the smuggled red sanders estimated at approximately Rs 68 crore, not counting one consignment that was intercepted and seized by DRI during its smuggling attempt.

The ED said Jaffer’s name had also come up in other red sanders smuggling cases investigated by various DRI units, indicating he may be a habitual offender. During the Chennai raids, the ED seized several properties allegedly acquired using proceeds of the smuggling operation. These include land parcels, buildings, flats, luxury vehicles, and documents described as incriminating.