Enviro News Asia, Makassar — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, through the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkum Kehutanan), has intercepted the illegal transportation of hundreds of timber logs lacking valid documentation at the exit gate of Soekarno-Hatta Port, Makassar, South Sulawesi.
The operation targeted a tronton truck driven by an individual identified as R, following intelligence reports on the movement of timber from Baubau Port in Southeast Sulawesi to South Sulawesi. Law enforcement officers stopped the vehicle as it exited the port area for inspection.
During the initial examination, the driver claimed the truck was carrying seaweed. After further questioning and a thorough inspection, the driver admitted that the cargo consisted of timber and presented a transport document in the form of a Transport Note. Officers subsequently discovered 544 logs of kumea wood inside the truck.
Authorities determined that the Transport Note was not valid for the shipment. According to forestry regulations, the transportation of kumea timber requires a Certificate of Legal Timber Forest Products (SKSHHKO), issued through the SIPUHH-ONLINE system, rather than a Transport Note. This requirement was confirmed by an expert witness from the South Sulawesi Provincial Forestry Service.
Investigators found that the timber originated from Baubau City, Southeast Sulawesi, and was destined for Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, under the instruction of a timber owner identified as H. Following an investigation and case review conducted with the Supervisory Coordinator of Civil Servant Investigators (PPNS) of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, the driver R was officially named a suspect.
The suspect has been charged under Article 83 paragraph (1) letter b in conjunction with Article 12 letter e and/or Article 88 paragraph (1) letter a in conjunction with Article 16 of Law No. 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, as amended by Law No. 6 of 2023 on Job Creation, in conjunction with Article 20 of the Indonesian Criminal Code. The offense carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to IDR 2.5 billion.
Head of the Sulawesi Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Agency, Ali Bahri, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combating illegal timber circulation and enforcing forestry law.
“We will not tolerate any form of forest product transportation that violates legal requirements. We are continuing to investigate to uncover other parties involved, including the timber owner,” Ali Bahri said. (*)
