ED Seizes ₹11.3 Crore Assets in Gujarat Linked to Khair Wood Smuggling

Ahmedabad | January 24, 2026 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 14 immovable properties worth ₹11.3 crore in Godhra town of Gujarat’s Panchmahal district. The move comes as part of a money laundering probe linked to an alleged khair wood smuggling racket, officials said on Saturday. According to the ED, the accused, including Mustaq Adam Tasiya and Mohammed Tahir Hussain, were involved in illegally cutting khair trees from several wildlife sanctuaries across Gujarat. The areas affected include Tapi, Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Narmada and other districts, and the operations were carried out without any permission from forest authorities. Khair wood, obtained from the Acacia catechu tree, is valued for its strong timber and high tannin content. It is commonly used in traditional medicine, dyeing, and for making ‘kattha’ used in paan. The ED said the illegally harvested wood was transported and sold across state borders, causing large-scale destruction of forests and harm to wildlife habitats. The agency said the accused, along with several accomplices, continuously engaged in unauthorised felling of khair trees and sold the wood in the grey market. “These illegal activities caused huge losses to the government exchequer and led to the generation of proceeds of crime running into crores of rupees,” the ED said. The money laundering investigation began after a First Offence Report was filed in 2024 by the Range Forest Officer, Mandvi South Range in Surat district. The report was registered over alleged smuggling of khair wood in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Following the probe, the ED identified assets linked to the accused and attached them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The attached properties include 14 immovable assets in Godhra town, totaling ₹11.3 crore, the ED added. ED Attaches ₹11.3 Crore Assets in Gujarat After Khair Wood Smuggling Probe The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached 14 properties worth ₹11.3 crore in Godhra town, Gujarat. This action is linked to a major khair wood smuggling case, officials said. The properties were attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The ED has named Mustaq Adam Tasiya and Mohammed Tahir Hussain as key accused in the case. The agency said they were involved in cutting khair trees from wildlife sanctuaries across Gujarat without permission. The illegal felling reportedly took place in districts like Tapi, Surat, Valsad, Navsari, and Narmada. Khair wood comes from the Acacia catechu tree and is highly valued for its strong timber and tannin. It is used in traditional medicine, dyeing, and to make ‘kattha’ used in paan. The ED said the wood was sold through the grey market and transported across state borders, causing major damage to forests and wildlife habitats. “These illegal activities caused huge losses to the government exchequer and led to the generation of proceeds of crime running into crores of rupees,” the ED said. The probe began after a First Offence Report was filed in 2024 by the Range Forest Officer in Surat, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The ED is now investigating the case further.