Siliguri, 14th March: The State Goods and Services Tax (SGST) department foiled timber smuggling bid and seized a huge quantity of teak wood from a container truck in Fulbari. The timber was being smuggled to Mumbai under the guise of challan generated for tea leaf. The SGST handed over the seized lorry and timber to the Sarugara Forest Department along with the apprehended driver identified as Rahul Khan.
According to sources, on Wednesday, a special campaign was launched by the team of Assistant Commissioner Chand Mansouri under the leadership of SGST Additional Commissioner Vishal Lama where the documents of vehicles carrying goods were checked. During this, a container bearing UP registration number was halted. Upon initiating a search, the driver of the vehicle stated to the officials that the container was loaded with tea leaves and presented the documents.
However, based on suspicion, the officials directed to take the container driver to the SGST office located at Matigara where the illegally transported timber was exposed. Subsequently, SGST officers informed the matter to the Sarugara Forest Department. Promptly the Forest Department officials arrived at the SGST office and took the container into custody and arrested the driver Rahul Khan. The estimated market value of the seized timber is about Rs 12 lakh. On Thursday, the Forest Department presented the accused driver before the Jalpaiguri court.
In this regard, Special Commissioner of North Bengal GST Department, Sonam Wangdi Bhutia revealed that the campaign was launched near Fulbari Panikauri toll plaza. The document produced by the driver was a tea leaf challan, however, the container was loaded with timber. He added that attempted smuggling of timber from Assam to Mumbai via Fulbari under the guise of tea leaf challan was foiled. At present, the Sarugara Forest Department is investigating the entire matter.