Items worth RM433,000 seized from illegal logponds
KUCHING: The General Operations Force (GOF) confiscated timber and heavy machinery units, estimated to be worth more than RM433,000, from two illegal logpond sites in Lingga during a recent operation.
According to GOF Sarawak commander SAC Mancha Ata, a team of his men was conducting patrol along Sungai Serpau and Sungai Kerepok in Lingga when they stumbled upon a logpond.
“At the time, there was nobody there.
“We suspected that the workers at another logpond (at Sungai Serpau) realised the presence of GOF troops and warned the others to flee,” he said in a statement yesterday.
At the first site, the GOF team confiscated an excavator, a power generator, a chainsaw and 25 tonnes of timber, estimated to be worth RM4,582 in royalties.
“My men remained at the site for two hours, waiting for someone to claim responsibility.
“However, no one showed up,” said Mancha, adding that the team then proceeded to the other logpond site.
“As with the first site, this logpond appeared to have been abandoned hastily. My men confiscated an excavator, a water pump and five tonnes of timber estimated to be worth RM916 in royalties, from the area.
“We believe that both logpond sites are illegally operated by the same individual(s),” he added.
The case is being investigated by the Sarawak Forest Department, under Sarawak Forest Ordinance 2015.
We suspected that the workers at another logpond (at Sungai Serpau) realised the presence of GOF troops and warned the others to flee.
— SAC Mancha Ata, GOF Sarawak commander