Teak wood worth crores seized in Alipurduar hidden under glass bottles

Forest officials of the Buxa Tiger Project in Alipurduar seized a truck loaded with teak wood worth crores of rupees on Friday morning. The high-value teak was cleverly hidden beneath sacks of glass bottles to evade detection.

The operation was carried out by officers of the Nimati Range of the Buxa Tiger Project. Acting on a tip-off, they set up a checkpoint on National Highway-31 in Kalchini Block. A truck headed toward Siliguri was intercepted during this operation. Upon inspection, the officers discovered a massive consignment of teak wood concealed under layers of glass bottle sacks.

The moment the truck was stopped and the search began, the driver reportedly fled the scene, taking advantage of the commotion. Despite the escape, the forest team swiftly secured the vehicle and transported the seized items to the range office for documentation and further action.

Sources in the forest department revealed that the teak was being illegally smuggled from Assam to Siliguri—a route known for its forest-rich zones and illegal timber transport. Investigations are underway to track down the absconding driver and identify the larger network behind the smuggling. No arrests have been made yet, but forest officials confirmed that a detailed inquiry has been initiated. They suspect the involvement of an organized racket and have sought help from police to expand the probe beyond the local level.