Assam: Salbari forest division foils fresh timber smuggling attempt on NH-31

In yet another significant crackdown on illegal timber trade, forest officials from the Salbari Forest Division on Wednesday, April 9 seized a large quantity of timber being transported through a trailer near Kaziranga Dhaba, close to Howly on National Highway 31.

The operation was launched following a confidential tip-off, leading to the interception of a trailer bearing the registration number NL-01N-2424. Upon inspection, the vehicle was found to be fully loaded with timber, suspected to be teak.

A youth present at the site, suspected of being involved in the smuggling operation, was detained for questioning by the forest officials.

Speaking to the media, Babul Brahma, an officer with the Salbari Forest Division, confirmed the seizure and revealed that this incident is part of a larger and organized timber smuggling network that is using newer methods to evade detection while transporting illegally felled wood via NH-31.

The incident mirrors a similar operation that took place just days ago in Simlaguri, also within the Salbari division, where another trailer carrying illegal timber was seized. 

The back-to-back seizures suggest a rising trend in timber smuggling across this corridor and raise serious concerns about forest conservation and border enforcement in the region.

The Forest Department has intensified vigilance across strategic routes and promised stricter actions to dismantle the racket.