Soldiers back log smuggling
Soldiers back log smuggling
SURABAYA: East Java's forestry office has asked journalists to
identify the Armed Forces individuals behind the notorious
smuggling of timber out of Kalimantan and Sulawesi.
Office chief Amir Hamzah said Thursday that he needs the names
of the soldiers who allegedly give support to the smuggling ring
so he can make an official report to the authorities.
"Please give us their identities. They have too often
threatened our employees who want to stop smuggling," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.
Amir said that the smugglers use the port of Gresik as their
base. Forestry officials have been afraid to take action against
the smugglers because they are routinely threatened by the
corrupt soldiers, he said.
According to Amir, up to 60 ships carrying smuggled timber
anchor at the Gresik port every month. The soldiers then prepare
fake documents for the logs, he said.
"The backers (soldiers) won't hesitate to try and bribe
forestry officials to release the logs they confiscate," he said.
Marsanto, chief of security at forestry company Perhutani's
East Java branch, said he was "surprised" to hear about the
involvement of the Armed Forces.
"Such instances had occurred before the Navy launched its
recent anti-smuggling operation but I was not aware that it is
happening now," he said. (pan)
SURABAYA: East Java's forestry office has asked journalists to
identify the Armed Forces individuals behind the notorious
smuggling of timber out of Kalimantan and Sulawesi.
Office chief Amir Hamzah said Thursday that he needs the names
of the soldiers who allegedly give support to the smuggling ring
so he can make an official report to the authorities.
"Please give us their identities. They have too often
threatened our employees who want to stop smuggling," he was
quoted by Antara as saying.
Amir said that the smugglers use the port of Gresik as their
base. Forestry officials have been afraid to take action against
the smugglers because they are routinely threatened by the
corrupt soldiers, he said.
According to Amir, up to 60 ships carrying smuggled timber
anchor at the Gresik port every month. The soldiers then prepare
fake documents for the logs, he said.
"The backers (soldiers) won't hesitate to try and bribe
forestry officials to release the logs they confiscate," he said.
Marsanto, chief of security at forestry company Perhutani's
East Java branch, said he was "surprised" to hear about the
involvement of the Armed Forces.
"Such instances had occurred before the Navy launched its
recent anti-smuggling operation but I was not aware that it is
happening now," he said. (pan)