Govt gets tough on log smugglers

Govt gets tough on log smugglers

JAKARTA: Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa submitted to the
Attorney General's Office on Monday the dossiers on a smuggling
attempt involving some 25,000 cubic meters of logs, and asked
state prosecutors to seek severe punishments for the
perpetrators.

The ministry's Director General of Forest and Nature
Conservation, Wahjudi Wardojo, explained that the ministry was
expecting the prosecutors to also seize evidence and the
transport used to smuggle out the logs.

"The seizure of the transport will effectively curb the
smuggling that has caused losses to our country," he told
reporters at his office, referring to Forestry Law No. 41/1999
that provides sanctions for log thieves and smugglers.

On Sunday, the navy -- in collaboration with the Ministry of
Forestry -- arrested three foreign vessels carrying a total of
25,300 cubic meters of logs.

The vessels, flying the Singaporean, Chinese and Hong Kong
flags respectively, are now under guard off Tanjung Priok
seaport.--JP