Gujarat Forest Dept busts kher wood smuggling racket, 16 tonnes seized

Navsari: The Forest Department busted a kher wood smuggling racket after setting up surveillance in Godthal village of Chikhli taluka, acting on a tip-off. During the operation, officials arrested a man and seized around 16 tonnes of kher wood being transported without the required pass or permit.

Forest officials seized a truck loaded with kher wood along with a Honda motorcycle, without a number plate, which was allegedly being used to pilot the vehicle. In total, valuables worth ₹16.6 lakh, including the wood and vehicles, were seized during the raid.

The arrested accused has been identified as Arjun Patel, who reportedly has 24 cases of wood theft registered against him in the past. He was produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody at Navsari Sub Jail.

During interrogation, Patel allegedly revealed that the kher wood was supplied by a man named Shehzada, who resides in the Bhilad area and is originally from Uttar Pradesh. The Forest Department has launched a search for the suspect and is continuing further investigation to uncover the full extent of the racket. DeshGujarat