Illegal Timber Supply Chain Uncovered, Thousands of Logs Seized
The Ministry of Forestry is tightening oversight of the forest product supply chain after uncovering a series of illegal timber circulation cases in North Sumatra and Sulawesi throughout May 2026. The enforcement actions targeted timber processing industries, inter-provincial distribution routes, and illegal logging activities within conservation areas.
These revelations indicate that forestry crimes are no longer confined to forest areas but have shifted into distribution chains and processing industries through the use of forged legality documents to disguise the origin of the timber. In North Sumatra, a joint operations team secured approximately 1,677 round logs of mixed jungle and meranti species lacking barcodes or legality markers. The operation, which began on 13 May 2026, targeted several sawmills in the East Kisaran District, Asahan Regency.
In addition to round logs, officers seized 30 bandsaw units and processed timber, including planks and rafters. The crackdown followed community reports regarding suspected illegal logging in Poldung Village and the Simonis area, North Labuhanbatu Regency, where the harvested timber was allegedly supplied to processing industries in Asahan.
Field inspections revealed approximately 758 logs and 12 bandsaw machines at CV AMS, 413 logs and five bandsaw machines at UD R, 36 logs and six bandsaw machines at CV FJ, 360 logs at CV MBS, and 110 logs at CV SJP. Investigators are currently questioning sawmill owners, forestry technicians, workers, and several witnesses. The Medan Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office, alongside the North Sumatra Environmental and Forestry Office, is conducting measurements and verifying legality documents, such as the Certificate of Legality for Round Timber (SKSHH-KB) and the Certificate of Legality for Processed Timber (SKSHH-KO).
Hari Novianto, Head of the Sumatra Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office, stated that inspections are being conducted to ensure the origin of every log found in processing industries. He emphasised that if timber is found to originate from illegal logging or lacks valid documentation, the case will be processed through available legal instruments, including administrative and criminal proceedings.
The Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, noted that monitoring the timber processing industry is key to maintaining national forest governance. Sawmills are considered critical nodes in ensuring that timber entering the industry is legally sourced, thereby preventing unfair competition for law-abiding businesses.
In Sulawesi, the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office has referred three suspects involved in inter-provincial illegal timber trafficking to the prosecutor’s office after the case files were declared complete (P-21). The case uncovered the suspected shipment of 199 mixed jungle logs from Beteleme Village, North Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi, to South Sulawesi using two trucks without legal documents and the alleged use of forged SKSHHKO documents.
Suspects identified by initials Y and F were apprehended in North Luwu and Luwu Regencies respectively during a sting operation in January 2026. Investigators also identified H (alias A) as the timber owner and distributor organiser. Authorities handed over one truck with 97 logs and forged documents to the North Luwu District Attorney, while another truck with 102 logs was handed to the Luwu District Attorney.
Ali Bahri, Head of the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office, stated that the use of forged documents poses a serious threat to state oversight of timber trade. The three suspects face charges under Law Number 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as amended by the Job Creation Law, with a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to Rp2.5 billion.
In a separate case, the Sulawesi Forestry Law Enforcement Office identified two suspects for illegal logging in the Mangolo Nature Tourism Park, Southeast Sulawesi. The suspects, ES and AA, allegedly felled approximately 23 trees over three days within the conservation area. Officers seized dozens of processed ironwood (ulin) logs, machetes, and chainsaws.
The suspects face charges under the Law on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and fines of up to Rp5 billion.