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