SFC uncovers tricky measures to hide illegal logs
BINTULU: Illegal loggers in Sarawak appear to have resorted to extreme measures to conceal their ill-gotten harvest, based on what enforcers from Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) had discovered during an operation near here on Dec 8.
According to the agency, its enforcement team from the Bintulu Regional Office and OneStop Compliance Centre (OSCC) Tubau conducted a search after having spotted an unusual opening at Mile 24 of Bintulu-Miri Road.
The team found 52 logs believed to have been illegally felled due to the absence of property marks on each timber piece.
An extended search across the area uncovered four more piles of logs, which were either buried in the ground or camouflaged under layers of tree branches and leaves.
“So far, more than 48.6m3 of illegal logs have been uncovered during this operation,” said SFC.
It believed that the illegal logs might have been extracted from the Bintulu water catchment area.
“They are of various sizes and species such as ‘Meranti’, ‘Resak’, ‘Medang’, ‘Kapur’, ‘Nyatoh’ and other MLH (mixed light hardwood) species.”
A report was lodged at Bintulu police station on the same day.
The case was handed over to the relevant authority yesterday for further investigation and disposal.