KHOWAI/AGARTALA, May 15 (TIWN): Call it failure and utter negligence of police and forest department, smuggling of expensive timber is rampant throughout Khowai, it is increasing day by day.

According to sources, timber smuggling has gained its momentum during night at Champahar forest area. Wood smugglers have been selling woods in open market. Organized gangs are illegally procuring logs of woods and smuggling it to different parts of the state and across the state.

Though scores of such smuggling rackets were busted in the State, its key operators had not been caught so far. Although drug and gem smuggling are both lucrative ways for the smugglers, timber smuggling is even more lucrative.

The sources further added that wood smugglers have become active in the Champahar forest areas due to lack of co-ordination among forest authorities. The forest areas have become a convenient passage for smuggling of teak and other forest products.

Hundreds of tones of teak and other expensive wood are smuggled out to different places within Khowai and neighbouring areas.

Sources said that the police officers pacify themselves tracing wood smugglers but the kingpins always remain out of the their reach. The smuggling of wood has been rampant under the nose of the forest and police officials.