Jakarta, March 16, 2020. The Sumatra Gakkum Team seized 9 trucks filled with illegal wood and arrested 7 people suspected of being involved. The team confiscated 2 Fuso trucks containing 70 m3 on 13 March 2020 in Babat Tomang District, Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra. Then on March 15, 2020, the Team again detained 7 trucks containing illegal logs in Tebo Regency. The Sumatra Gakkum Office also arrested 7 people for information. One person escaped.

“We will continue the investigation process with the target of snaring illegal timber barons. These seven field agents who have been secured become the entrance to trap investors, “said the Head of the Sumatra Regional Gakkum Office, Eduward Hutapea, March 16, 2020.

The success of the arrest began with the operation of securing the distribution of illegal timber originating from forest areas in South Sumatra Province and Jambi Province. The first phase of operations in North Musi Rawas Regency, March 13, 2020, the Team seized 2 Fuso trucks containing 70 m3 of illegal wood in the Sekayu area.

The wood is thought to originate from the Kerinci Seblat National Park Area and the surrounding production forests which will be brought to Jakarta via Palembang. The two trucks belong to CV SP in Batu Gajah Village, Muratara Regency. The team arrested 4 people (driver and driver’s truck). Trucks loaded with wood and 4 people were secured at the Wiayah III Section Office, Balai Gakkum Sumatera Region.

On 15 March 2020, at around 02.00 WIB, in Tebo Regency, Jambi Province, the Team found and ambushed 2 fuso trucks filled with illegal timber belonging to CV WGL that were being transported to Central Java. The two trucks were then secured in the Mako SPORC Jambi Tiger Brigade. The team suspected that the wood originated from Bukit Thirty National Park and the surrounding production forest.

From the results of the inspection of the truck driver, the Team found out the location of CV WGL. At the WGL CV site, the Team found 5 fuso trucks that were ready to transport illegal wood (in the form of logs, processed wood of various sizes, canned beams) and 2 badsaw machines. The team sealed the CV WGL area. The person in charge of CV WGL – with the initials E – escaped. The team suspected that E was the owner of CV WGL, one of the timber barons in Muratara Regency.

“Perpetrators of illegal timber distribution like this must be punished severely. They have damaged the environment and harmed the country, as well as the community. There must be a deterrent effect. KLHK will not stop cracking down on perpetrators of environmental crimes like this, “said Rasio Ridho Sani, Director General of Gakkum, KLHK, March 16, 2020, in Jakarta.

Individual perpetrators will be charged with violating Article 12 Letter e, Law No. 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, with a maximum penalty of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum fine of Rp 2 billion (Article 88 Paragraph 1 Letter a). Perpetrators will also be charged with violating Article 19 Letter f with a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp 100 billion (Article 94 Paragraph 1 Letter d). “We have pocketed several illegal log players in Muratara District, South Sumatra Province and Tebo District, Jambi Province. We will continue to set their strategy to take action, “said Sustyo Iriyono, Director of Forest Prevention and Security, Directorate General of Gakkum, March 16, 2020, in Jakarta.

Source: Gakkum KLHK