New timber smuggling method found
New timber smuggling method found
JAKARTA (JP): An operation team set up to curb forest crimes
uncovered a new method of wood smuggling during a raid at
Jakarta's Tanjung Priok harbor.
The head of Jakarta's provincial forestry office, Purwadi
Mangunwardoyo, said yesterday the team foiled an attempt to
smuggle 30.18 cubic meters of processed wood worth Rp 45 million
(US$19,565), about Rp 1.5 million per cubic meter, to Taiwan
early this month.
The wood -- separated into 16 packages for the assembling of
one house -- was found on-board the KM Sindulang.
"Don't look at the volume or value of the wood. It is the
modus operandi that we must be aware of, because it may have
happened in the past," he said.
The processed wood was found to have original documents but
the type of wood used did not match that written in the
documents.
Purwadi explained that according to the shipping documents,
the processed wood -- in the form of wooden housing parts -- was
"mixed forest timber".
"But the raid discovered that meranti wood, 'luxury wood' and
teak were also involved. The teak is suspected to have come from
Muna island in Southeast Sulawesi," he said.
Meranti wood, "luxury wood" and teakwood are expensive types
of timber which are known for their strength and beauty.
Purwadi said the smuggling was uncovered when the KM Sindulang
stopped over at Tanjung Priok to transfer its cargo into
container boxes at the port's export terminal. The timber came
from the local forestry office in Donggala, Southeast Sulawesi,
and is owned by PT Centuri Jaya Industri, he said.
Purwadi acknowledged that he was facing the problem of legal
procedures because the owners of the goods are not in Jakarta.
"In fact, I heard that they are in Central Sulawesi, so the
forestry team will have difficulty processing this case," he
said, as quoted by Antara.
He said an auction of the timber is likely to be held in the
near future.
"But it must be done quickly, otherwise the value of the goods
will drop," he said. (pwn)