BANDA ACEH - The Banda Aceh Police have foiled an attempt to sell wood suspected of originating from illegal logging in a protected forest area in Seulimeum District, Aceh Besar Regency.
"The suspect and the wood were arrested as evidence when they were about to sell it to a timber yard," said Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Banda Aceh Police, AKP Donna Briadi, at a press conference in Banda Aceh, Antara News Agency reported on Thursday, August 28.
The arrest began during a police patrol last Tuesday in the Blang Bintang area of Aceh Besar. Officers stopped a Mitsubishi truck carrying 13 logs, equivalent to 7.7 cubic meters.
The truck driver, identified as ID (61), was unable to produce official documents and was taken to the Banda Aceh Police Headquarters for questioning.
According to the investigation, Id obtained the wood from a man identified as SU for Rp 800,000. He planned to sell the wood to a timber yard in Banda Aceh to be processed into planks for around Rp 2.5 million.
Police briefly detained a truck passenger with the initials FZ, but he was released due to his lack of knowledge of the illegal activity.
"ID has engaged in similar activities several times, and it's part of his job. However, he didn't have the proper documentation," said Donna.
A forestry expert interviewed stated that the wood was a type of Meudangbalu, a mixed forest species that grows naturally in protected forests.
"The expert believes this wood originated in protected forests," he said.
Donna added that police are still investigating the timber harvesting area and the location of the alleged illegal logging. The suspect is being charged under Article 88 paragraph (1) letter a of Law Number 18 of 2013 concerning the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment or a fine of IDR 2.5 billion.
"Patrols will be tightened to prevent the entry of illegal wood into Banda Aceh. The purchasing chain will be broken," said Donna.
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