Enviro News Asia, Seram — Authorities from the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkum) for the Maluku–Papua Region have handed over two suspects and evidence to prosecutors in a major illegal ebony timber trafficking case. The transfer, known as Stage II in the legal process, was conducted at the Prosecutor’s Office in East Seram Regency on Saturday (7 March 2026).
The case exposes a distribution network of protected ebony wood transported from Maluku to Surabaya in East Java.
The two suspects identified are NS, who allegedly operated at the upstream level as a supplier of ebony timber in East Seram, and AW, who acted downstream in Surabaya by providing falsified documents to legitimize the distribution of the processed timber.
Head of the Maluku–Papua Regional Forestry Law Enforcement Office, Fredrik E. Tumbel, stated that the case demonstrates the government’s firm commitment to pursuing forestry crimes across the entire supply chain—from source to distribution networks.
“Law enforcement actions are conducted professionally and target the entire illegal timber distribution chain, from upstream actors to downstream networks. Not only field operators, but also those involved in the distribution system will face firm legal action. We urge all parties to ensure the legality of forest products to support the protection of Indonesia’s forests,” Fredrik said in Ambon.
Investigators revealed that the suspects attempted to ship approximately 110.49 cubic meters of processed ebony wood, locally known as Amara or striped ebony, using the toll-sea vessel KM Kendhaga Nusantara 12 from Sesar Port in Bula to Surabaya.
Suspect AW allegedly falsified 10 documents of Timber Legality Certificates and 14 processed timber lists to deceive authorities and legalize the shipment. Meanwhile, suspect NS was arrested with evidence including 44 pieces of striped ebony wood and financial transaction records indicating illegal timber trading in East Seram.
Both suspects are charged under Law No. 18 of 2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years and fines of up to Rp2.5 billion.
Physical evidence, including hundreds of cubic meters of processed timber, is currently secured at storage facilities in Pasuruan, East Java, and at the warehouse of the East Seram Regency Government for court proceedings.
The completion of the Stage II process was made possible through coordination between Forestry Law Enforcement investigators, the supervisory unit for civil servant investigators of the Maluku Regional Police, and the East Seram Police. (*)
