Smuggling Bid: 65 logs of illegally cut timber seized

The accused was later released after he paid a fine of Rs222,764 under the forest laws.

HARIPUR: A smuggler was arrested and 65 logs of illegally cut timber were seized from Tarbela Lake on Saturday. Bheer Police Station House Officer Yousuf Khan said that on a tip off, a police team stopped a motorboat carrying timber near Gamdaf village. The smuggler fired shots in the air to evade arrest but was overpowered and apprehended. The accused, identified as Khanzada of Sector 2 Khalabat Township, was later released after he paid a fine of Rs222,764 under the forest laws. The SHO said that the seized timber was of high quality and has a market value of hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2012.