Illegal logs worth Rs 14 crores seized at Assam-Bhutan border

Chirang, May 4, 2019:

It is known by now that precious logs from Assam are being smuggled to neighboring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh frequently by the forest mafia.

This time, the Sashastra Seema Bal (English: the Armed Border Force) SSB 15, which is responsible for maintaining law and order along the Indo-Bhutan border, along with forest officials, has seized a large quantity of smuggled wood. Based on specific intel, the joint forces launched an operation at around 2:30 pm in Chirang district's Lichimari village near the Indo-Bhutan border and recovered a huge amount of illegal logs.

23,068.5 CFT sal wood, 14,760 CFT shisham wood, 34,650 CFT lali wood, 17,373.125 CFT shagun wood, 19,687.5 CFT titisap wood, 12,863.8125 CFT parli wood, 10,290 CFT kolfoma wood, 236 CFT shagun wood, a Glamour bike, a Jio cell phone, and Rs. 28,800 were recovered by the authorities.

The nabbed items are estimated to be worth Rupees 14 crores 35 lakh and six thousand.

Six wood smugglers have been booked by the authorities. They are: Idris Ali (19), Mohammad Najrul Islam (20), Mohammad Saddam Hussain (19), Chobahan Ali (26), Akbar Ali (25), and Jaharul Islam (22).

[caption id="attachment_29332" align="alignnone" width="660"] The alleged wood smugglers[/caption]

The SSB has handed over the seized items as well as the apprehended to the forest officials for further process.