Joint Officers Secure Two Suspects in Illegal Logging in Banyuwangi

Joint officers from the police and Perhutani Banyuwangi, East Java, foiled an illegal logging action by securing two suspected perpetrators, while five other perpetrators remain at large.

Head of the Main Section for Forest Resource Protection (SDH) of Perhutani East Java Regional Division, Yudiono, stated that the raid took place on Monday (4/5) night in the Perhutani forest area of KPH Banyuwangi Selatan, block 57-B in the Gaul Forest Management Resort (RPH), Karetan Forest District (BKPH).

“During a joint patrol with members of Bangorejo Police Sector, we discovered seven people suspected of carrying out illegal logging,” said Yudiono in his statement in Banyuwangi on Tuesday.

The two perpetrators who were successfully secured are SUP (40) and SUM (41), residents of Sumberjambe Hamlet, Temurejo Village, Bangorejo Subdistrict, Banyuwangi Regency.

Yudiono explained that prior to this, officers received a report regarding illegal logging activities in the forest area. Following up on that information, the joint team immediately headed to the location and found teak trees being felled using a chainsaw.

In addition to securing the two perpetrators, officers also confiscated evidence consisting of one truck with licence plate N 8449 EU, 28 teak logs, and one chainsaw.

“Currently, the two perpetrators along with the evidence have been handed over to Bangorejo Police Sector for further legal proceedings,” Yudiono stated.

He added that joint patrols between Perhutani and the police are a preventive and repressive measure to suppress forest security disturbances in the area.