MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Forest Department on Monday seized a vehicle carrying 32 deodar sleepers during an operation at Kohala checkpost in Muzaffarabad district.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Tauseef Mir said that the seized Toyota Hi-Ace has been sent to the Central Forest Office.
Mir said that, acting on the information, the vehicle was intercepted and searched at around 6am during a blockade established at Kohala. The recovered timber and vehicle were subsequently seized and shifted to the Central Forest Office.
DFO added that the department had received reports for some time about the smuggling of timber through Hi-Ace vehicles.
He said the practice had previously stopped through forest departmental operations, but fresh information was received that timber was again being transported in vehicles operating from Neelum, Leepa and other areas.
Acting on the information, the forest team established a checkpoint at Kohala, where the vehicle was stopped and searched, leading to the recovery of the deodar wood sleepers.
DFO Mir said that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the timber and identify those allegedly involved in its smuggling. He said that after a thorough investigation of the matter, more details will be shared.
