Three Illegal Loggers Arrested in Riau Wildlife Sanctuary
Three perpetrators of illegal logging in the Kerumutan Wildlife Sanctuary (SM) area in Pelalawan, Riau, were arrested by Forestry Police on Saturday (1/8).
Head of the Sumatra Region Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Hari Novianto, stated that the illegal forest clearing was discovered by officers on patrol. He said officers arrested two suspects, identified as E (56) and SH (55), who were transporting illegal timber using two trucks.
“The joint team then arrested another suspect, identified as A (46), who was caught red-handed carrying processed timber using a modified bicycle out of the conservation area,” he said in a written statement on Tuesday (4/8).
Hari stated that from further investigation, his team also discovered several huts within the Kerumutan Wildlife Sanctuary used by the suspected illegal logging perpetrators.
Based on these findings, he said, officers immediately destroyed the processed timber, huts, and supporting facilities for the illegal logging activities. This included the wooden rail tracks used to transport the illegally felled timber out of the forest area.
He confirmed that all three have now been named as suspects and are being detained at the Pekanbaru Class I Detention Centre to undergo further legal proceedings.
“The evidence seized includes one Isuzu truck loaded with approximately 275 pieces of sawn timber in plank form, one Mitsubishi Fuso Canter truck carrying around 156 pieces of wooden planks and about 100 pieces of batten timber,” he stated.
For their actions, the three perpetrators are charged under Article 40 paragraph (1) letter e in conjunction with Article 19 paragraph (2) letter e of Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 11 years and/or a maximum fine of IDR 2 billion.
Separately, the Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that action against illegal logging perpetrators will continue to be taken to safeguard biodiversity.
He said the Kerumutan Wildlife Sanctuary, which serves as a habitat for the Sumatran tiger in Riau, is facing serious threats from illegal activities in the form of logging and poaching.
“If law enforcement is not carried out, it is feared that the Sumatran tiger will become extinct,” he said.
Dwi stated that this law enforcement effort is carried out in accordance with the directive of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, to strengthen the protection of forest areas in order to preserve and sustain Indonesia’s natural resources.
He added that law enforcement against illegal activities not only aims to stop violations but also to maintain the ecological function of forest areas and prevent recurring damage.
“As well as encouraging the legal and sustainable utilisation of forest resources to maintain the ecological function of forests while protecting the habitat of protected wildlife,” he said.