India, May 27 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Abdul Jaffer, the alleged mastermind of an inter-state syndicate involved in large-scale smuggling of red sanders wood to overseas markets. Jaffer, who had been absconding for four years while evading multiple ED summons, was apprehended from Chennai during search operations conducted by the agency's Nagpur unit as part of a money-laundering investigation.

According to ED officials, Jaffer is accused of illegally exporting 13 consignments of Red Sanders wood-valued at approximately Rs.68 crore in grey markets-to Dubai over the past few years. The smuggling operation reportedly involved misdeclaring the cargo to Customs authorities. In one instance, sponge iron declared for ex...