Officers from Indragiri Hulu Police take a rest on top of stacks of wooden beams produced from suspected illegal logging activities inside Kerumutan Forest in Indragiri Hulu regency, Riau on Dec 4, 2025. Police found some 300 cubic meters of timber in the operation. - Photo: Courtesy of Indragiri Hulu Police
JAKARTA: While its northern neighbours reel from natural disasters amplified by deforestation, the province of Riau remains afflicted by illegal logging, as demonstrated by the police seizure of 300 cubic meters of timber products in Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies.
Stacks of timber products were first detected by Riau Police deputy chief Brig. Gen. Jossy Kusumo while flying over Indragiri Hulu on board a helicopter on Nov 21.
Neatly stacked timber products were seen along a canal in the middle of peatland.
Jossy sent a video recording and location coordinates to Indragiri Hulu Police chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Fahrian S. Siregar, who responded by ordering detectives chief Adj. Comr. Arthur Josua Toreh to form three teams to conduct field verification.
The first team was led by First Insp. Awet L. Nainggolan and Second Insp. Riki Rahmadi through a land route in Sukajadi village, Kuala Cenaku district, on Nov 28.
The 12-kilometre route was reportedly over rough terrain.
“The team had to open its own way and walked for hours through bush and dense forests,” said Fahrian said on Friday (Dec 12). “The search was halted and the team had to return in the middle of the night to ensure personnel safety given the lack of light.”
The next day, the second team resumed the search along a route inside PT Sumatra Riang Lestari’s concession area.
After coordinating with Riau Forestry Agency’s Indragiri Forest Management Team, detectives from Indragiri Hulu Police decided to take another, longer, route through Bayas village in the neighbouring Pelalawan regency.
A team of detectives from Pelalawan Police under Adj. Comr. I Gede Yoga Eka Pranata joined the search.
The joint team searched along dozens of kilometers of canal on the forest border for four hours by boat.
“The team disembarked from the boats in the middle of the forest and proceeded inland for 1 km, but they did not find any evidence,” said Fahrian.
“Considering the dense forest and recommendations from the guides, the search was again halted to ensure personnel safety.”
After evaluation and considering suggestions from guides, it was decided that the third team led by Arthur would start from Indragiri Hilir regency.
Another team led by Indragiri Hilir Police chief of detectives, Adj. Comr. Budi Winarko and personnel from Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) joined the search along the Kiri Gaung River inside the concession area of PT Bina Duta Laksana.
After going through thick forest for some 57 km, the team spent the night aboard pompong (motorised wooden vessels), whereupon a team member found fresh tiger tracks on the riverbank.
Following the discovery of the tiger tracks on the riverbank, Riau BBKSDA confirmed that the location was a wildlife crossing path and the team decided to return in the morning to avoid conflicts with wildlife.
After coordinating with various parties, the search continued on Dec 3 at 4am along the Kanan Gaung River in the concession area of PT Mutiara Sabuk Khatulistiwa (MSK).
The team traveled on 10 pompong boats following the narrow river, which was full of fallen trees and dense vegetation.
After 36 hours, two of the pompong broke down and had to be abandoned. “In addition to rough terrain, the team also had limited supplies. They only had drinking water left and were facing exhaustion,” said Fahrian.
The team eventually located four wooden barges carrying timber logs and beams in the afternoon of Dec 4.
The team continued on toward the previously determined coordinates inside Kerumutan forest and at 6pm they came on stacks of processed timber lined up on both sides of a canal.
“We found no illegal loggers in the location,” Fahrian said.
Because the team was running out of supplies and night was falling, they decided to remain at the site.
The following day, the team documented the findings, taking coordinates and calculating the volume of timber.
“After placing a police line, the tired and hungry team returned home.” Fahrian said.
“On the way back four more pompong boats were lost due to collisions.”
He said that all team members arrived at the MSK security post at 7pm. The police are now preparing to move the timber products to a safe location. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
