Keonjhar: A combined force of police and Forest Department officials successfully apprehended six members of a timber smuggling ring.
This was achieved by tracking their movements with drones in Santarapur village within the Ghatagaon block of Keonjhar district on Saturday morning.
The team also confiscated valuable timber logs, including Sal, Saguan, and Gambhari, estimated to be worth over Rs 50 lakh from the culprits.
Sources indicate that the officials utilized several drones to surveil the smugglers on Friday night.
After maintaining strict surveillance, the joint force executed an early morning raid on the village on Saturday and captured the offenders.