JP/01/GRAPHIC

JP/01/GRAPHIC

International Timber Smuggling Syndicates from Papua to China

Jakarta and Surabaya: Brokers and Security Providers
Jakarta and Surabaya companies controlled illegal logging
operations on the ground in Papua.
Government officials involved in the racket gave legal documents
for vessels carrying smuggled timber to sail through Indonesian
sea.

Malaysia: Logging operations and Logistics
Provides the heavy machinery and technical expertise required to
cut down the merbau trees. Fake documents to disguise the origin
of the timber were given fro Malaysian businessmen.

Singapore: Traders and Shippers
Acts as a major regional hub in the illegal logging business.
Singapore-registered ships and barges ferry illegal logs out of
Indonesia.

Hong Kong: Brokers and Buyers
Hong Kong based trading firms provide the link between suppliers
in Indonesia and buyers in the burgeoning timber manufacturing
industry of mainland China.

China: Final Destinations
In China, the main entry ports of merbau logs are Zhangjiagang
and Shenzhen.

Source:
The Last Frontier: Illegal Logging in Papua and China's MAssive
Timber Theft. A report by Environmental Investigation Agency and
Telapak, February 17, 2004.