Illegal sandalwood smuggling has been on the rise in Paro. The District Forest Officials (DFO) have intercepted four cases this year. There was only one such case reported in 2011-2012.
“The offenders bring in timber from India and try to smuggle it to China where it fetches a good price,” said the Chief Forestry Officer, Kaka Tshering.
The DFOs frequently seize illegally felled Blue pine and other coniferous trees. But this year saw an increasing number of sandalwood smuggling. “People smuggle the wood into the country by concealing it under other materials,” said Kaka Tshering.
Kaka Tshering said they import the timbers from the Indian town towns close to Bhutanese’s border such as Alipur, Hashimara and Jaigaon. “I think it is being traded illegally even from India.”
He said Bhutanese people buy illegally from them without any documents. The timbers are brought in, in vehicles hidden along with other materials like bricks and cement. “This is very difficult to be detected in the check posts also”
Kaka Tshering says the movements usually happen at odd hours making it harder to stop them. The public, he says, play an important part in this. Their tip-offs help them catch the criminals. But to bring a complete stop to this, Kaka Tshering, says custom officials will have to start thoroughly checking vehicles at the border gates.
“The Department of Forests has no authority to check each and every consignment, but the custom officials in the Phuentsholing gates have the authority.” He said infiltration of such illegal goods into the country can be prevented if there is thorough checking.
Sandalwood is a rare species of wood which is not available in Bhutan. It is endangered and its trade closely controlled.
