Repeat Offender Arrested for Smuggling Sandalwood Trees from Judges' Quarters in Tamil Nadu

In a shocking breach of security, a 37-year-old man from Theni district was arrested for smuggling sandalwood trees from the highly secure Judges' Quarters at Redfields, located along Kamarajar Road in Tamil Nadu. The accused, Vinoth Kumar of Gudalur, was caught by the Race Course police on Tuesday night and has since been remanded to judicial custody.

Sandalwood Smuggling at a High-Security Zone

The incident came to light on June 11, when a family member of a judge noticed that five sandalwood trees had been chopped down. Alarmingly, four were missing, with only one tree left behind. Despite the Judges' Quarters being under 24/7 police surveillance, smugglers managed to carry out the heist, raising serious questions about lapses in security.

Sources revealed that the same accused had committed a similar offence at the exact same location in 2018, for which he was sentenced to four months in prison. Despite having a criminal history and prior conviction, Vinoth Kumar returned to the area last week, reportedly with an accomplice, and once again targeted the protected trees.

How the Arrest Unfolded

Following the discovery, the Race Course police launched an intensive investigation, forming a special team to trace the culprits. The suspect, Vinoth Kumar, was arrested as he attempted to return to the scene to collect the remaining sandalwood logs.

Police confirmed that they are actively pursuing a second suspect believed to be Kumar’s associate in the smuggling operation.

“It’s deeply concerning that a repeat offender could penetrate such a secure area not once, but twice,” said a police official close to the investigation. “We are intensifying our patrolling and surveillance protocols to prevent such incidents in the future.”

The Larger Problem of Sandalwood Smuggling

Sandalwood trees are highly valuable and protected under law, especially in states like Tamil Nadu. Smuggling of sandalwood has become a lucrative but illegal activity in many parts of India, due to its high market value in perfumes, cosmetics, and traditional medicine.

What makes this incident particularly alarming is that it occurred in a high-security zone housing members of the judiciary—an area presumed to be one of the most secure parts of the city.

Security Reassessment Underway

In the aftermath of this incident, local authorities are expected to:

• Re-evaluate security protocols around Redfields and other sensitive locations

• Install additional CCTV cameras and motion detectors

• Strengthen night patrol units

• Launch background checks on local workers and frequent visitors to the area

Final Thoughts

• The arrest of Vinoth Kumar, a repeat offender, exposes a critical vulnerability in the state’s protective framework for natural resources—even in areas assumed to be secure. It also highlights the persistent issue of sandalwood smuggling in Tamil Nadu and the need for stricter monitoring and harsher penalties to deter repeat offenders.

  The Race Course police continue their investigation to trace Kumar’s accomplice and recover the stolen sandalwood logs. More updates are expected in the coming days.