53 logs confiscated

Kuantan, June 11: The Pahang Forestry Department has confiscated 53 logs, including Meranti and Keruing species that had been illegally logged from Jengka Forest Reserve near Felda Jengka 11, last Wednesday evening.

An enforcement unit from the Forestry Department, acting on a tip-off from the public, rushed to the suspected illegal logging site at 4:00p.m.

A spokesperson from the Pahang Forestry Department said that they believed the piles of logs found were derived from the forest reserve a month ago and were awaiting the safest time to be moved out.

He said initial investigation showed that those involved in the illegal logging operation had used the "wait and see" tactic in transporting the logs out, to avoid being detected by the authorities.

He added that what was more surprising was that the logging is now being carried out at night instead of during the day to avoid being noticed by the public.

The spokesperson however could not estimate the value of the confiscated logs that amounted to 321m³.