The Ministry of Forestry Confiscates 1,366 Logs of Processed Wood from Illegal Logging in East Java's Meru Betiri National Park
EAST JAVA - A joint operations team from the Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has uncovered an attempt to transport 1,366 logs of processed wood from illegal logging in the Meru Betiri National Park forest area, East Java.
"Discovering this case is part of a strategic effort to break the distribution chain of wood from forestry crimes, which often infiltrates inter-island distribution channels," said Aswin Bangun, Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara (Jabalnusra) Region, as confirmed in Jakarta on Friday, as quoted by Antara.
He stated that conservation areas like Meru Betiri are not free spaces for exploitation, confirming that the directives from the Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januato Nurgroho, and Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, stipulate that there will be no compromise with perpetrators of destruction of state forests.
The case was uncovered after a joint operation team comprised of the Jabalnusra Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, the Meru Betiri National Park Agency, and the Baluran National Park Agency successfully thwarted an attempt to transport illegally processed timber from illegal logging on the Situbondo-Banyuwangi Highway in Pesanggrahan Village, Jangkar District, Situbondo Regency.
During the operation, officers seized a truck loaded with 1,366 logs of processed timber of various sizes, weighing approximately 16,392 cubic meters, which were strongly suspected to have originated from a conservation forest area and were destined for Bali.
Aswin explained that the joint operation team successfully apprehended three individuals involved in the illegal timber distribution network: G, the owner and primary person in charge of transporting the timber; SHS, the field coordinator who managed the distribution route and process; and KBK, the person responsible for distribution within the illegal timber logistics network, from the cargo at the point of origin to the destination where the illegal timber was sold.
In addition to apprehending three individuals suspected of involvement in this illegal activity, officers also confiscated several pieces of evidence, including forged documents in the form of transport notes for cultivated timber from private forests prepared by G himself, as well as three mobile phones used for communication in the distribution of illegal timber. Currently, the three perpetrators have been named suspects and are being held at the East Java Regional Police detention center for further investigation.
The action began with routine patrols by officers from the Meru Betiri National Park, who discovered several tree stumps from illegal logging in the forest area. This discovery provided an initial clue to suspected illegal logging activity.
Shortly thereafter, officers received information from the public about the presence of a truck suspected of being used to transport the logged timber.
Regarding the case, the Head of the Meru Betiri National Park, RM Wiwied Widodo, expressed his appreciation for the synergy and collaboration between agencies.
"Moving forward, the Meru Betiri National Park Office will continue to increase patrol intensity, strengthen its monitoring system, and encourage community involvement to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Protecting conservation areas cannot be done alone; it requires collaborative work from all parties," Widodo said.