Sorong, February 6, 2020. The Papua Maluku Environmental Protection and Law Enforcement Operations Team succeeded in holding HN and S, two illegal logging actors along with 100 m3 of merbau (Intsia bijuga) wood of various sizes as evidence, in Kalwal Waters of Salawati Barat District, Raja Regency Ampat, 3 February 2020. Officers also secured KM Sumber Harapan III Ship, three chain saws, and modified bikes as wooden thrust devices.

“Investigators from the Papua Maluku Regional Gakkum Office are still investigating and completing the investigation of the case to find other parties involved,” said Leonardo Gultom, Head of the Maluku Maluku Regional Gakkum Office, February 6, 2020.

At present the officer moves the evidence of processed wood of various sizes to the Port of Klalin for further calculation, and is transferred to the warehouse. PNS Balai Gakkum Maluku Papua investigators will ensnare HN and S with Article 83 Paragraph 1 Letter b Jo. Article 12 Letter e of Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, with the threat of imprisonment for a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 15 years, fines of at least Rp 500 million and a maximum of Rp 2.5 billion.

“We will continue to monitor illegal logging activities in the Sorong region and West Papua in general by monitoring and early prevention from all parties,” Leonardo Gultom said.

In a separate place Sustyo Iryono, Director of Forest Prevention and Security stated the importance of the results of this operation to save natural resources and ecosystems, “This operation will continue to be carried out to protect people, ecosystems and save the country from loss”.

The Maluku Maluku Gakkum Balai received information early February 3, 2020, then the Maluku Maluku Gakkum Balai Operations Team followed up with arrests and confiscations.

Source: Ditjen Gakkum KLHK