Guwahati, Aug. 27 -- In a late-night operation on Tuesday, forest officials from Assam's West Kamrup Division seized a vehicle carrying illegal teak wood after a high-speed chase from Shantipur to Batakuchi.

The driver abandoned the Bolero pick-up (AS 01 LC 9523) near a gorge, but officials, led by Bamunigaon Range Officer Aminul Islam, recovered timber worth Rs 2 lakh.

Islam said the department has intensified its crackdown as smugglers adopt new routes. He warned that indiscriminate tree felling not only deprives Assam of valuable teak but also weakens its natural defences against floods, rising temperatures, and soil erosion.

Teak, locally known as Saguwaan, remains one of Assam's most prized resources, found in districts like Nagao...