A suspected illegal timber processing operation involving logs believed to have been stolen from a forest reserve has been uncovered by the General Operations Force (PGA) Tenggara Brigade in a raid at a factory in Kampung Dendang, Jerangau.
The raid, conducted at about 3pm yesterday, led to the seizure of logs, processed wood products and machinery valued at approximately RM1.27 million.
Tenggara Brigade Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said two men, aged 58 and 45, were arrested during the operation. They are believed to be the factory supervisor and a worker.
Preliminary investigations suggest the timber processing facility is owned by a man from Besut, who is alleged to have employed local workers to run the operations without a valid licence.
Authorities believe the facility was supplied by small-scale loggers involved in illegal tree felling activities within forest reserves, state land and private property.
To avoid detection and financial scrutiny, transactions related to the timber were allegedly conducted in cash.
Investigators also believe middlemen were used to facilitate the purchase of logs in order to distance the transactions from the factory’s actual owner.
Further investigations are ongoing as authorities move to dismantle the suspected illegal logging network.
