Wood plundering rampant in W. Sumatra

PADANG, West Sumatra: Rampant plundering of wood has cost West Sumatra province about Rp 2.5 billion per month, Governor Zainal Bakar said on Friday.

"I have received reports from several organizations about people who have plundered the wood. I am studying it. It must be stopped," the governor said.

It has been reported that the culprits work for a syndicate that is backed by several officials and security personnel, he said.

"We are preparing a movement to bust the network," chief of Forest Protection and Nature Conservatory Horas Siregar said. He acknowledged it was difficult to catch the culprits as the practice of illegal forest exploitation had been going on for quite some time. (28/edt)