Probe into alleged Rs 1 billion timber smuggling in Nepal’s Kailali

A probe has been launched into the alleged smuggling of timber worth over Rs 1 billion in Nepal’s Kailali district.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has started investigating the alleged smuggling of timber from various community forests in the district.

According to sources, the CIAA’s Kanchanpur office has seized documents related to the sale and auction of timber from the Division Forest Office in Dhangadhi and the Division Forest Office in Pahalmanpur.

Probe Launched

The probe was launched after it was found that a large quantity of timber was being smuggled out of the district with the alleged involvement of high-ranking officials and politicians.

According to the CIAA, the smuggling was carried out with the involvement of various community forests, some timber traders, and forest officials.

Preliminary evidence has also been found against the chiefs of the Division Forest Office in Dhangadhi and Pahalmanpur, as well as the director of the Forest Directorate.

Smuggling Plan

According to the CIAA, a plan was made to smuggle out 123,000 cubic feet of timber from around a dozen community forests in Kailali, and 222,000 cubic feet of timber from the Pahalmanpur area.

The estimated value of the timber is said to be over Rs 1 billion.

False Recommendations

It has also been found that false recommendations were made by forest experts to cut down trees that were allegedly infested with insects.

All the necessary documents were prepared to auction off the trees, and the process was initiated without informing the Nepal Forest Products Association and other stakeholders.

The CIAA has seized all the documents related to the sale and auction of timber and has launched a probe into the matter.