As much as 200 tonnes of CITES Appendix II protected red sanders (also known as red sandalwood) are seized from India’s illegal timber trade each year. Red sanders are trafficked to meet high demand for sandalwood carvings, furniture and musical instruments, as well as medicine and cosmetics in China and the Gulf States.

The trade is immensely lucrative: one tonne of ‘A grade’ quality red sander logs are estimated to sell wholesale at USD 130,000–200,000, while lower ‘B grade’ red sanders can fetch USD 35,000-65,000 per tonne. In destination markets, red sanders furniture may be sold for prices ranging from USD 13,000 for small chairs to millions of dollars for ornately carved pieces.

All international trade in red sanders is restricted, and the production and sale of products made from these species introduces significant risk for financial institutions and other private companies. According to media reports, only a tenth of smuggled red sanders are estimated to be seized. Seizures are reportedly often released upon payment of bribes.

The lucrative nature of the trade attracts organised crime groups, corrupt officials and others: politicians, mid-level police, customs officials, and actors in the Tamil film industry have all been arrested for involvement in red sanders smuggling. Corruption typically includes:

• Forestry officials bribed to allow poachers access to protected areas.
• Police at road checkpoints bribed to allow movement of logs.
  
• Customs and port officials paid to provide falsified documents and intentionally
  limit physical checks of suspect containers.
  

In May 2020, authorities in India seized 1.5 tonnes of red sanders alongside USD 1.3 million worth of methamphetamine, opium paste, heroin, MDMA (ecstasy), amphetamine and methaqualone. This illustrates convergence with drug trafficking networks. Red sanders smuggling routes also converge with cigarette smuggling routes to the UAE and wildlife trafficking routes from India to Asia.

Note: The above details are contained in a United for Wildlife Taskforce Alert (AL-00021) circulated to Taskforce members in October 2020, summarising current knowledge and trends on red sandalwood trafficking. Used with permission from the author.