Arunachal: Forest officials bust massive illegal timber smuggling operation on Siang river

Authorities from D. Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary and Pasighat Forest Division intercepted and destroyed 155 illegal timber logs near the Tarotamak and Siang river confluence on Tuesday, dealing a significant blow to regional timber smuggling networks.

 

The breakthrough came after wildlife rangers from Sibiyamukh Wildlife Range detected a large timber raft during routine river patrol on Monday afternoon. The logs, primarily Bombax ceiba trees (locally known as Ximolu, Shimul, and Singgi), were being illegally transported via river. The Eco-Development Committee/Community Surveillance & Monitoring Team, led by US Perme, had previously reported similar illegal driftwood timber logging activities.

 

After intercepting the timber rafts, the patrolling team informed Range Officer O Mize of Sibiyamukh WL range, who subsequently contacted D Koyu, Range Officer of Mebo Forest Range. The timber's origin was traced to an area between Seram and Kongkul/Padan village in the Seram Beat.

 

Due to a lack of infrastructure for timber removal, the seized logs were damaged using a chain-saw machine. Five contractual labourers from the Lakhimpur district in Assam, each paid Rs 5,000 for transportation, were involved in the operation. Authorities released them after obtaining written assurances against future illegal logging activities.

 

Pasighat Forest Division's DFO Hano Moda emphasised the serious nature of the incident, warning field staff against accepting bribes and demanding strict vigilance against timber mafias. Moda highlighted the systemic challenge of corruption enabling such illegal operations.

 

The incident highlights a persistent challenge in the region: timber operators from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam frequently use the Siang River to transport logs, finding it easier, cheaper, and less risky than road transportation.

 

An anonymous forest department officer revealed that corrupt field staff often play a crucial role in these operations. They may deliberately misdirect patrolling teams, alert timber operators in advance, or even compromise informants by revealing their identities to timber mafias.