New timber smuggling method found<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An operation team set up to curb forest crimes
\nuncovered a new method of wood smuggling during a raid at
\nJakarta's Tanjung Priok harbor.<\/p>\n
The head of Jakarta's provincial forestry office, Purwadi
\nMangunwardoyo, said yesterday the team foiled an attempt to
\nsmuggle 30.18 cubic meters of processed wood worth Rp 45 million
\n(US$19,565), about Rp 1.5 million per cubic meter, to Taiwan
\nearly this month.<\/p>\n
The wood -- separated into 16 packages for the assembling of
\none house -- was found on-board the KM Sindulang.<\/p>\n
\"Don't look at the volume or value of the wood. It is the
\nmodus operandi that we must be aware of, because it may have
\nhappened in the past,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The processed wood was found to have original documents but
\nthe type of wood used did not match that written in the
\ndocuments.<\/p>\n
Purwadi explained that according to the shipping documents,
\nthe processed wood -- in the form of wooden housing parts -- was
\n\"mixed forest timber\".<\/p>\n
\"But the raid discovered that meranti wood, 'luxury wood' and
\nteak were also involved. The teak is suspected to have come from
\nMuna island in Southeast Sulawesi,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meranti wood, \"luxury wood\" and teakwood are expensive types
\nof timber which are known for their strength and beauty.<\/p>\n
Purwadi said the smuggling was uncovered when the KM Sindulang
\nstopped over at Tanjung Priok to transfer its cargo into
\ncontainer boxes at the port's export terminal. The timber came
\nfrom the local forestry office in Donggala, Southeast Sulawesi,
\nand is owned by PT Centuri Jaya Industri, he said.<\/p>\n
Purwadi acknowledged that he was facing the problem of legal
\nprocedures because the owners of the goods are not in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, I heard that they are in Central Sulawesi, so the
\nforestry team will have difficulty processing this case,\" he
\nsaid, as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
He said an auction of the timber is likely to be held in the
\nnear future.<\/p>\n
\"But it must be done quickly, otherwise the value of the goods
\nwill drop,\" he said. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-timber-smuggling-method-found-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}