Kemenhut Captures Three Illegal Logging Perpetrators in SM Kerumutan, Targeting Intellectual Actors and Cukong 

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has arrested three perpetrators of illegal logging in the Kerumutan Wildlife Sanctuary (SM), Pelalawan Regency, Riau. This action is part of a law enforcement operation that also targets the network behind illegal logging activities in the conservation area.

The joint operation of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Sumatra Region and the Riau KSDA Headquarters was carried out on August 1, 2026. Two perpetrators with initials E (56) and SH (55) were arrested while transporting illegally logged wood using a Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck and an Isuzu truck from within the SM Kerumutan area.

The team then arrested another perpetrator with the initials A (46) who was caught carrying processed wood using a modified bicycle out of the conservation area. The three perpetrators and the evidence were immediately secured to the Office of Section II of the Pekanbaru Forestry Gakkum for further legal proceedings.

This action is part of the efforts of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to carry out President Prabowo Subianto's instructions which place the eradication of illegal logging as one of the priorities in strengthening national forest governance.

Under the leadership of King Juli Antoni, the Ministry of Forestry has strengthened forest area supervision, improved law enforcement against perpetrators of forest crimes, and encouraged the legal and sustainable use of forest resources.

In addition to arresting the perpetrators, the operation team also combed the SM Kerumutan area and found a number of huts used for illegal logging activities. Officers destroyed processed wood, huts, supporting facilities, to wooden rails used to transport illegal logging out of the forest area.

Head of the Forestry Office of the Sumatra Region, Hari Novianto, said that SM Kerumutan is still the main target of illegal logging.

"Since 2025, the Forestry Department has brought 5 suspects of illegal logging in SM Kerumutan to the green table, by arresting 3 of these perpetrators indicates that SM Kerumutan is still a target of illegal logging. We have ordered investigators to thoroughly investigate the other perpetrators and develop the intellectual actors/parties who ordered and the cukong/capitalist," he said in his statement, Tuesday, August 4.

Based on the results of the examination and the title of the case together with the PPNS Korwas of the Riau Police, the three perpetrators have been named suspects.

They were charged with Article 40 paragraph (1) letter e in conjunction with Article 19 paragraph (2) letter e of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Adjustment. The threat of punishment imposed is imprisonment for a maximum of 11 years and/or a fine of up to Rp. 2 billion.

The Gakkum Forestry investigators have detained the three suspects at the Pekanbaru Class I Detention House. The seized evidence includes one Isuzu truck loaded with about 275 pieces of sawn wood, one Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck transporting about 156 pieces of board wood and about 100 pieces of breadwood, as well as one modified bicycle used to transport illegal wood.

Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement Dwi Januanto Nugroho emphasized that the Ministry of Forestry would continue to take firm action against crimes that damage forest areas.

"The Ministry of Forestry remains consistent and is firmly committed to prosecuting perpetrators of crimes against the forest ecosystem, they seek personal profit at the expense of the state and threaten the lives of the community because damaging the ecosystem and environment must be punished to the maximum," he said.

He also reminded that SM Kerumutan is an important habitat for Sumatran tigers in Riau, which is now facing serious pressure due to illegal logging and hunting.

"Currently, SM Kerumutan, which is the habitat of the Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) in Riau Province, is experiencing a serious threat from illegal activities in the form of illegal logging and illegal hunting. If law enforcement is not carried out, it is feared that the existence of the Sumatran Tiger will be extinct," he concluded.