Illegally felled logs for delivery to Chinese capitalists seized

FORESTRY officials were joined by police and rangers in raiding a house in the middle of a forest in northern Mae Hong Son province where they seized a large number of logs and processed timber that were to be sent to Chinese capitalists, Naewna newspaper said today (June 3).

Mr. Kasem Khamma, head of Department of Forest Resource Management office number one in Mae Hong Son, led a team of officials accompanied by police, rangers and Border Patrol Police in raiding this house in the jungle near Tha Pha Pum subdistrict, Mae La Noi district.

There they seized 43 planks of processed padauk wood, 37 planks of teak wood and 18 logs of golden teak wood as well as the building.

As it is believed these logs were felled in violation of Section 14 of the National Reserved Forest Act B.E. 2507 (1964) and Section 48 of Forest Act B.E. 2484 (1941) they were all transported to the forest protection office in this district.

Investigation is now under way to take legal action against those involved in the illegal felling of these trees.

Mr. Somjin Netpradit, director of Forest Protection Division, said Chinese capitalists have been placing orders for padauk logs with illegal loggers then felling and processing a large number of these trees in Mae Sariang and Sob Moei districts for them.

The authorities have been continuously setting up checkpoints to stop the transportation of these illegally felled logs and processed timber with five currently in place in four districts namely Khun Yuam, Mae La Noi , Mae Sariang and Sob Moei districts.

CAPTION:

Padauk, teak and golden teak logs and planks seized at the house in Mae Hong Son jungle. Photos: Naewna