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 6August 2007
Bid to smuggle RM500,000 timber into Thailand foiled
By Adib Povera
 KUALA
NERANG: State Forestry Department officers foiled an attempt to smuggle 1,300
pieces of illegally-logged timber worth RM500,000 into Thailand yesterday. They
also seized 10 bulldozers 50m from the border where the logs were piled.
The officers were unable to make any arrests as the smugglers escaped before
they reached the area.
The timber was believed to have been felled at a 50ha area at the Hulu Muda
forest reserve.
State director Kasim Osman said his officers had identified the syndicate
involved.
Kasim said: "We may not have been able to catch them at the site where the
logs were found, but we know the company which felled the trees illegally and we
will take action."
Although the enforcement officers had been tipped off to the presence of the
illegal timber, they had to comb the forest for an hour before stumbling on a
can of paint used to mark the felled timber.
This led to the discovery of the logs and bulldozers.
The case is being investigated under Section 15 of the National Forestry Act
1984 (amended 1993).
Those convicted could be fined up to RM500,000 and jailed up to 20 years.
Copyright 2007 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.
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