UPPER DIR: Over 20 timber smugglers were arrested and sent to prison and a large quantity of timber was seized in an operation conducted in various forests of Kohistan area of Upper Dir district.

On a tip-off, additional assistant commissioner, Sheringal, Mohammad Saqib Khan along with forest officials and Levies personnel conducted visits to forests in Lamoti, Badran and Tindarkun (Gowaldi).

According to a statement, 10 offenders were arrested in Badran forest and the logs were seized. Similarly, six timber smugglers were arrested in Lamoti area.

The Levies personnel also arrested six smugglers while trying to smuggle logs at a checking point, the statement said. It said cases had been registered against all of them.

Mr Saqib said chainsaws, axes and other tools were also seized. He said timber smugglers were taking benefit of the Covid-19 outbreak as the administration and the police were focused on containing the pandemic.

However, he said the administration won’t allow timber smuggling at any cost.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2020