RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Legal proceedings against illegal logging in the Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park (TNBT) in Riau Province have reached a significant milestone as the Ministry of Forestry officially handed over a key suspect, identified as AR, to the Indragiri Hulu District Attorney’s Office.

The handover follows a targeted enforcement operation conducted on February 27, 2026, where AR was caught red-handed harvesting timber inside the national park. According to the Head of the Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement (Gakkum) Center for the Sumatra Region, Hari Novianto, the suspect utilized specialized tactics to evade detection, including processing timber manually with hacksaws under the cover of night and transporting the logs using modified motorcycles.

"Strict action against illegal logging perpetrators is a manifestation of the government's seriousness in protecting and preserving biological natural resources for the sustainability and future of coming generations," said Hari in a confirmation from Jakarta on Monday, May 4, 2026.

The initial sting operation intercepted a group of seven individuals transporting illegally processed tembalun timber. While AR was apprehended alongside seven motorcycles loaded with wood, six other suspects managed to escape into the dense forest undergrowth during the ambush.

As reported by Antara, authorities confirmed that the identities of the fleeing suspects have been established, and a manhunt is currently underway to bring the remaining members of the group to justice.

Investigators believe the syndicate has operated repeatedly within the park, posing a severe threat to the fragile ecosystem of Bukit Tiga Puluh. For his role in the destruction of the conservation area, AR faces a maximum prison sentence of five years and a Category IV fine of up to IDR 200 million (USD 11,500).

The Ministry of Forestry remains focused on pursuing the full network to prevent further ecological damage to the national treasure. ***