AGARTALA, May 23 (TIWN): Timber smuggling rampant in the Forest area, hundreds of tonnes of teak and other expensive wood are smuggled out to different places to fill the pockets of smugglers. Timber smuggling in Tripura is increasing day by day in comparison with drug smuggling in the state. On Saturday based on secret information, Amarpur Forest Department official’s detained wood which was being carried illegally.

Upon receiving secret information, the Amarpur Forest department personnel led a raid and seized huge amount of wood which was being carried illegally in a truck Registered No- TR03G 1807 from Amarpur Mouza village on last night.

Prasenjit Banik, forest officer, said there had been allegations of illegal timber smuggling for several days. So, acting on a tip-off the forest department officials led a raid last night and detained a vehicle loaded with timber. But the forest officers were unable to arrest the driver as he escaped from the scene.

Drug smuggling to timber smuggling competitively is rising in Tripura as a source of livelihood, and no initiative has taken from govt authorities to curb these smuggling in the state.