Large-scale teak timber racket busted in Maduru Oya

Wildlife officers on Saturday (09) early morning has taken five men involved in a teak timber racket that been carried out in large scale for a long period of time in Maduru Oya National Park in Maha Oya.

All suspects are revealed as the residents of the Maha Oya area

The officers have also seized at least 200 logs with an estimated sale value of Rs. 2 million due to be transported by the racketeers.

However, during the raid, the lorry believed to be used for the transportation had fled from the scene, they said.

The racket had been stealthily carried out in the Maha Oya, in the Kottugaswala Division in the Maduru Oya National Park, according to officials.

They said that according to the information gathered during the investigation the racket had been carried out with the support of some of the Wildlife Department officials and some members of the Security Forces.

The Security Range Officers attached to the national park G.G. Weerasena, E.M. Gamini, Assistant Range Officers G.D.M.P. Guruge, Wildlife Guards H.W.G.J. Ranathunga, and Lahiru Chamara (Driver), Civil Security Guard E.M. Amarasiri conducted the raid.

They said that according to the information gathered during the investigation the racket had been carried out with the support of some of the Wildlife Department officials and some members of the Security Forces