Two Meranti Islands residents, Riau province, identified only with the initials YD and SF, have been nabbed for alleged illegal logging in forest area alongside the Buton trans-highway in Mengkapan village, Sungai Apit district, Siak regency.

Siak Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Restika Nainggolan said a team led by the police’s crime investigation unit [Reskrim] head Adj. Comr. Reza arrested the two suspects in an operation on Saturday, following reports of alleged illegal logging from locals.

“The team confiscated four cubic meters of punak wood, which had been cut down into smaller board-shaped pieces, and equipment such as machinery and bicycles that had been modified as transportation to carry the wood from inside the forest,” Restika told journalists on Sunday.

The police officer said Reskrim personnel caught YD by surprise while in the trees,” said Restika.

Without resistance, YD revealed the location of the illegal logging operation to police. “After walking another two kilometers, our team found another suspect, SF. He was unaware of the police’s presence as he was busy cutting wood with a band saw,” said Restika.

During the investigation, SF said he sold wood from illegal logging to a buyer identified only as HR. “On the same day, the team arrested HR at his home, where they found three cubic meters of wood without valid documentation. "It is suspected he masterminded the illegal logging [operation],” said Restika, adding that the three suspects were undergoing further investigation at Siak Police station. (ebf)