Forest officials and security units intercepted a vehicle carrying illegally harvested timber along the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh border. The contraband was seized and formal legal proceedings started against the trafficking network. This operation follows strict enforcement actions taken in September 2026 to stop illegal timber transit between the two states.
Authorities seized timber worth Rs 80,000 on September 21 in Assam's Sonitpur district after a vehicle failed to stop at the Bhalukpong check gate.
Another vehicle was caught on September 7 in Lekhapani, Assam, for transporting timber from unauthorized sawmills in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district.
Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah confirmed the zero tolerance policy toward illegal tree felling and cross-border smuggling.
The Forest Department increased intelligence raids and surprise inspections at vulnerable transit points to check for valid transit passes.
