Joint Team Secures Thousands of Illegal Timber Logs at Five Sawmills in Asahan

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Joint Operation Team of the Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry secured thousands of illegal round logs of mixed forest and meranti types in East Kisaran District, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra. The wood was seized from five wood processing industries (sawmills) because it was not equipped with barcodes or official legality markers.

In the operation that took place since Wednesday, May 13, 2026, the officers seized 1,677 logs, 30 units of bandsaw machines, and piles of processed wood in the form of planks and battens as evidence.

This operation was conducted following reports from the community regarding the rampant illegal logging activities in Poldung Village and the Simonis area, Labuhanbatu Utara Regency. The timber from the looting is strongly suspected to be supplied and stored by five sawmills in the Kisaran Timur area.

From the field inspection, the joint team detailed the findings of log wood and bandsaw machines at the five companies: CV AMS: 758 logs and 12 bandsaw machines. UD R: 413 logs and 5 bandsaw machines. CV MBS: 360 logs and 2 bandsaw machines. CV SJP: 110 logs and 5 bandsaw machines. CV FJ: 36 logs and 6 bandsaw machines.

Currently, the Forestry Law Enforcement Investigator is still examining the sawmill owner, technical staff (ganis), and the workers. At the same time, the Sustainable Forest Management Center (BPHL) Region II Medan and the North Sumatra Environmental and Forestry Agency (DLHK) are measuring log wood and checking the validity of mandatory documents such as Certificate of Authenticity of Roundwood Forest Products (SKSHH-KB) and Certificate of Authenticity of Processed Timber Forest Products (SKSHH-KO).

The Head of the Sumatra Forestry Law Enforcement Center, Hari Novianto, emphasized that the factual examination process is still being conducted in detail at the location. "Every piece of wood must have a clear origin." If proven to originate from illegal logging or without valid documents, this matter will be processed thru available legal instruments, both administrative and criminal sanctions," Hari said in his written statement, Monday, May 18, 2026.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, stated that sawmills are a crucial node in the national forest product management system that must be closely monitored to prevent them from becoming entry points for illegal timber into the market.

"The enforcement of forestry law must protect many interests at once: forest sustainability, rule-abiding businesses, state revenue, and society. Therefore, the state must be present firmly, carefully, and consistently," he explained.