Ahmedabad | The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Ahmedabad Regional Office, has issued an Anantim Recovery Order (PAO) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, attaching 14 immovable properties valued at approximately ₹11.3 crore in Gujarat’s Godhra district. The action is part of an ongoing investigation against Mustaq Adam Tasiya, Tahir Ahmad Hussain, and others, officials confirmed.
The probe was initiated on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Range Forest Officer of the Surat Forest Division, Mandvi South Range, under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, in connection with the illegal smuggling of Khair wood.
According to ED sources, the principal allegation is that Mustaq Adam Tasiya, Tahir Ahmad Hussain, and their associates carried out unauthorised felling of Khair trees from wildlife sanctuaries across multiple districts of Gujarat, including Tapi, Surat, Valsad, Navsari, Narmada, and Tyara. The illegally felled trees were allegedly transported across state borders and sold in local markets, causing extensive damage to protected wildlife habitats and generating unlawful proceeds.
The investigation revealed that the accused systematically organised illegal logging operations while deliberately bypassing mandatory permissions from forest authorities. The illicit sale of Khair wood resulted in substantial financial gains for the perpetrators and corresponding losses to the government.
ED officials stated that the attached properties, collectively valued at ₹11.3 crore, were identified as proceeds of crime derived from the illegal Khair wood trade. These include 14 immovable assets located in Godhra district, which have now been provisionally attached as part of the recovery process.
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The action underscores the ED’s focus on invoking PMLA provisions in cases involving environmental offences and illegal exploitation of natural resources. By targeting assets generated through wildlife crimes, the agency aims to dismantle organised networks that profit from ecological destruction.
Authorities emphasised that such offences not only violate wildlife protection laws but also contribute to deforestation, habitat degradation, and long-term ecological harm, threatening biodiversity in sensitive forest regions.
The case highlights the growing recognition of the link between environmental crime and money laundering, where proceeds from illegal natural resource exploitation are converted into immovable assets, making financial investigation and attachment a key enforcement tool.
The Enforcement Directorate has stated that investigations are ongoing to identify additional properties, bank accounts, and individuals connected to the illegal Khair wood smuggling network. Officials warned that any attempt to conceal or launder proceeds of environmental crimes will invite stringent legal action.
The attachment marks a significant step in curbing wildlife-related economic offences and reinforces the role of financial enforcement in addressing organised environmental crime in India.
