Enviro News Asia, Ketapang — Forestry law enforcement officers under the Ministry of Forestry successfully disrupted an illegal timber trafficking operation in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan, after intercepting a large timber raft in the early hours of Saturday, 17 January 2026.
The operation took place at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time in the waters of the Pawan River, where officers secured a timber raft carrying an estimated 600 logs of mixed tropical hardwood, along with two motorized wooden boats. Authorities intercepted the raft as it docked near a wood-processing facility in Negeri Baru Village, Benua Kayong District.
Preliminary inspections confirmed that the timber shipment was not accompanied by legally required transport and origin documents, including the Timber Legality Transport Certificate. Officers detained five individuals found at the scene for further questioning to determine their respective roles and identify the broader network behind the operation.
Head of the Kalimantan Forestry Law Enforcement Office, Leonardo Gultom, stated that the enforcement action followed reports from local residents regarding suspicious timber transport originating upstream of the Pawan River. He emphasized that investigators are pursuing not only field operators but also financiers and beneficiaries involved in the illegal activity.
Law enforcement authorities have also secured the wood-processing facility suspected of receiving the illegal timber as part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspects are believed to have violated Indonesia’s Forestry Crime Prevention Law, which criminalizes the transportation and possession of timber without valid documentation. Under current regulations, offenders face up to five years’ imprisonment and fines of up to IDR 2.5 billion.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating environmental crime, stating that strict and sustained enforcement remains essential to protecting forest resources, preventing deforestation, and safeguarding state assets.
The Ministry of Forestry confirmed that the case remains under investigation and that further legal action will follow as evidence collection continues. (*)
