Sullia: Illegal teak smuggling busted at Sampaje check post; two arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Sullia, Jan 17, 2026: Forest Department officials detected an illegal timber smuggling operation at the Sampaje check post while inspecting a vehicle arriving from the Madikeri side.

During the inspection, officials found that a vehicle bearing registration number KA 13 AA 0769 was illegally transporting beeti (teak) wood. The timber had been concealed by covering the top of the vehicle with a tarpaulin and hiding it beneath sacks filled with rice husk. A total of 25 pieces of beeti wood were found hidden under the sacks.

The Forest Department arrested the vehicle driver, B. M. Sajan of Napoklu, produced him before the court, and he was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Another prime accused, identified as Abdul Abdutti of Siddapur village in Virajpet taluk, is absconding, sources said.

The operation was carried out on the night of January 15 based on specific information, under the guidance of the Deputy Conservator of Forests and Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Madikeri Regional Division and Madikeri Sub-Division. Officials from the Sampaje Forest Investigation Station, led by the Range Forest Officer, took part in the operation.

Those involved in the operation included Range Forest Officer Dinni Dechamma, Deputy Range Forest Officer Sandeep Gowda, forest guards Karthik D., Nagaraj S., and Siddarama Natakar, departmental vehicle driver Bhuvaneshwar, and investigation station staff Rajesh.