Illegal Indonesian Ramin Crackdown

The Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), acting under authorisation as the Malaysian Management Authority (MA) for timber species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of wild fauna and flora, went to the free commercial zone of Pasir Gudang port in Johor on 20 February 2004.

The MTIB inspected sawntimber stored amongst other goods in four warehouses, with full co-operation from Johor Port Bhd and the Customs Department stationed in Pasir Gudang. The transhipment documents from Indonesia declared the wood as sawntimber without specifying the species. Altogether, the MTIB found a total of 3,879.38 tonnes of sawntimber of which 1636.88 tonnes (2,317.82 m3) or 42% were of Ramin timber species, believed to be of Indonesian origin. Ramin has since August 2001 been listed, on a request by Indonesia, in Appendix III of CITES, making it a legal requirement for Indonesian Ramin to be imported only with an Indonesian CITES Permit. Other sawntimber found were of Kempas, Jelutong, Balau, Nyatoh and other red-coloured wood species. The Port Authority has been notified to seize the Ramin sawntimber which were brought in illegally, since no CITES Permit could be produced for the Ramin cargoes. The shipper involved in the trading of illegal Indonesian Ramin has been asked to cease operations in Johor Port Bhd's premises.

MTIB has contacted the CITES MA of Indonesia on 23 February 2004 as provided under Article VIII of the text of the CITES to seek the Indonesian MA's response for the return of sawntimber. The relevant Article in this case is Article VIII 4 which states the measures to be taken by the Parties (in this case, Malaysia, which is a Party to the CITES). Under Article VIII 4. (b) "the MA, shall after consultation with the State of export, return the specimen to that State at the expense of that State, or to a rescue centre or such other place as the MA deems appropriate and consistent with the purposes of the present Convention.". Action has also been taken to inform the CITES MA in the country to which the illegal Ramin was destined to have been shipped.

Since the Malaysian government implemented the CITES procedures in August 2001 up to 3 March 2004, 31 cases of Ramin smuggling have been intercepted in Peninsular Malaysia, involving 3,520 m3 comprising of 503m3 of logs, 79m3 of Large Scantlings & Squares (LSS) and 2,938m3 of sawntimber.

Source : MTIB