Meranti Riau Police Seize 8 Tons Of Wood From Illegal Logging

PeKANBARU - Meranti Islands Resort Police, Riau confiscated 8 tons of wood from illegal logging in the Pertas River forest area, Tanjung Darul Takzim Village, West Tebingtinggi District.

Head of the Meranti Islands Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP Roemin Putra, confirmed the disclosure of the case.

He stated that the active role of the community is very crucial in providing initial information to law enforcement officials.

"Receiving this information, the team immediately moved and found illegal logging activities along with evidence at the location," said AKP Roemin Putra, Thursday, December 11, as reported by ANTARA.

This disclosure was made on Monday (8/12) starting from information provided by the public regarding suspicious activities in forest areas. Then followed up with an in-depth investigation by the opsnal team.

As a result, an assembly of processed wood was found which was suspected to be being transported using a pompong boat. The police finally confiscated a total of 8 tons of processed wood from the best location and arrested a perpetrator with the initials MS.

In addition to wood, officers also confiscated two boxes of chainsaw parts, one chain of Chainsaw machines, one roll of cable, one LED light, one cell phone unit of the alleged perpetrator. There are also two bottles of clothes bleaching liquid that are suspected of being used to manipulate the color of the wood resulting from the crime.

AKP Roemin explained that the alleged perpetrator MS and all evidence had been brought to the Meranti Islands Police Headquarters to undergo further investigation and investigation. Investigators will also investigate allegations of involvement of other parties or illegal timber distribution networks.

For his actions, MS was charged with Article 83 Paragraph (1) letter b in conjunction with Article 12 letter e of Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction which has been updated through Law Number 6 of 2023, as well as articles related to the Criminal Code.

"We are committed to preserving the forest and taking firm action against any activities that harm the state and society," the police said.