17 cases of illegal logging recorded in northern Sarawak

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MIRI: A total of 17 illegal logging cases were reported in Miri, Limbang, Lawas, Niah, Bakong, and Baram from January to September this year.

Miri assistant divisional forest officer Mohd Samsul Bahri said all the cases involved Forest Ordinance 1958 and Forest (Planted Forest) Rules 1997 offences.

“The illegal logs, including machinery, were seized and the Forest Department is going all out to combat these illegal activities,” Mohd Samsul told The Borneo Post yesterday.

He said the modus operandi of illegal loggers changes frequently to avoid detection, including letting the logs drift downstream.

“Our enforcement teams are all out monitoring any illegal logging activities in northern Sarawak along rivers, the sea, on land, and by air,” he added.

He also urged the public to report any illegal logging so that the department can act against the culprits.