JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is investigating indications of illegal timber laundering (timber laundering) as part of illegal logging activities in the Land Rights Holder (PHAT) area in flood-affected areas in North Sumatra.
English:
Director of Prevention and Handling of Forestry Complaints of the Directorate General of Law Enforcement (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yazid Nurhuda, said that his party had investigated JAM's PHAT to uncover a wider network of perpetrators and the modus operandi of their crime.
English:
"Currently, investigators are developing investigations into two other PHAT, namely the suspected M and the suspected AR. The role of the suspect M is still related to the investigation of JAM's brother. It is suspected that brother M, who is also the owner of the MN PHAT, also plays a role as a manager who receives illegal logs from JAM's brother PHAT. Meanwhile, the suspected AR is strongly indicated to have engaged in harvesting or collecting forest products without a permit outside the PHAT," said Yazid as confirmed from Jakarta, Antara, Monday, December 15.
English:
The indication is based on the results of image analysis on August 5, 2025 which showed that there was logging outside the PHAT AR area map in the upstream of the Batang Toru River with an area of around 33.04 hectares. While from the area of PHAT AR which is around 45.2 hectares, only about 5 hectares is open.
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"In addition, the suspect's brother AR is suspected of also mixing and transporting illegal wood that was cut from outside the PHAT area and wood from within the PHAT area to facilitate the illegal timber into the official market. This timber laundering modus is our main focus," he explained.
English:
Not only that, the Directorate General of Gakkum of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Cooperatives has secured several evidence that is suspected to be related to illegal activities of harvesting or collecting forest products without having the right or approval from the authorized official.
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The evidence is about 60 logs, 150 processed logs, one unit of heavy equipment excavator, one unit of bulldozer in a damaged state, one unit of wood spreader truck in a damaged state, two units of sawmills, one unit of crab machine, and one unit of drilling machine at TPK PHAT on behalf of JAM.
English:
The Ministry of Social Affairs also combed other locations outside PHAT JAM and found one unit of excavator heavy equipment and a scattering of logs outside PHAT JAM which was suspected to be part of PHAT JAM activities. The location of the discovery was in the forest upstream of the Batang Toru River about 8 kilometers from the PHAT JAM TPK.
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The evidence has been sealed by the Gakkum investigators, while the excavator heavy equipment along with round logs and processed wood were secured and deposited at the South Tapanuli Regency PUPR Office for further investigation.
English:
On several previous occasions, the Director General of Gakkum, Ministry of Home Affairs, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, continued to emphasize the prevalence of modus operandi for laundering illegal wood into legal wood through the misuse of forest management of wood as part of the crime of illegal logging carried out in an organized manner.
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"Collaboration with law enforcement partners in mobilizing the Gakkum ecosystem continues to be pursued. Including in efforts to regulate the forest area with the Forest Area Regulation Task Force (PKH) under the coordination of the Minister of Defense," he explained.
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