Guwahati: In a continued effort to curb illegal timber trade, the Forest Department seized in Lanka of Hojai, Assam, intercepted a vehicle carrying a large quantity of timber on Saturday.

The vehicle, with registration number AS01R 5298, was found to be transporting timber from Meghalaya.

According to reports, a large quantity of timber was also stored at the residence of one Akmal Laskar in Barjarani village, the department found during its investigation.

The forest department's operation in Lanka was part of a larger crackdown on illegal timber trade in the region.

While the seizure is a significant step in combating illegal trade, the legitimacy of the timber brought from Meghalaya remains unclear.

The forest department has initiated a probe to determine whether the timber was obtained legally.