JAKARTA: Police in Riau foiled another attempt to smuggle mangrove charcoal to Malaysia from Rupat Island in Bengkalis regency, seizing 140 tonnes of mangrove charcoal and naming two people as suspects.
Riau Police Special Crimes (Reskrimsus) Directorate chief Sr. Comr. Ade Kuncoro said the case started with a tip-off on Sept. 13 about suspected mangrove charcoal smuggling from Rupat Island to Batu Pahat in Johor, Malaysia, through the Malacca Strait.
Detectives from the Reskrimsus Directorate were then deployed for investigation in North Rupat district. They detained a vessel, the KM Million Line GT 34, on Jl. Ismail Athan in Teluk Rhu village on Sept. 14.
“Detectives also detained a skipper and two crew members and about 400 sacks of mangrove charcoal,” Ade said on Wednesday (Sept 23). “There were also 1,967 other sacks found around the location amounting to a total of 65 tonnes.”
After questioning the ship crew, detectives then traced the charcoal to a burning area in the village. Mangrove wood is processed into charcoal using three large-capacity kilns and two small kilns.
Detectives also found 75 tonnes of mangrove charcoal ready for sales in 2,654 sacks in the warehouse. “After the case was exposed, we named two suspects: ship skipper AT and owner and manager of the kilns AK,” Ade said.
“All charcoal found around the ship has been transferred to the East Dumai Police sub-precinct in Dumai city. The remaining 75 tonnes are still in the burning area with close supervision.”
He added that detectives have also confiscated the ship and one 60-kilogram scale. The initial investigation revealed the mangrove charcoal production started in 2022.
AK bought mangrove wood from villagers at Rp 300,000 (US$16.74) per tonne, or Rp 300 per kilogram. The mangrove wood is believed to have been cut down illegally from the Rupat Island coastal forest.
The wood was then processed using the kilns. The large kilns can produce some four tonnes in a single burning, and the smaller ones produce about two2 tonnes of mangrove charcoal.
The charcoal is sold at Rp 3,000 per kilogram with a sack worth some Rp 90,000. When the charcoal reaches Malaysia, the price increases, Ade said. “The price is between Rp 13,000 and Rp 14,000 per kg, depending on quality,” he said.
Detectives have questioned five witnesses and investigated the forestry and environmental aspects of the case. Both suspects have been charged with Article 83 (1) b juncto Article 12 of Law No. 18/2013 on Deforestation Prevention and Eradication with a maximum punishment of five years behind bars and a maximum fine of Rp 2.5 billion.
“Detectives also have also applied Article 78 (2) juncto Article 50 (3) of Law No.41/1999 on Forestry, carrying a maximum of 10-year in prison and a Rp 7.5 billion maximum fine,” he said. He added the case was the second handled by the Riau Police’s Reskrimsus Directorate as detectives foiled a smuggling attempt from the neighboring Meranti Islands regency.
Meanwhile, Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Herry Heryawan said the enforcement was part of an effort to maintain mangrove forests on the island, which have an important role as a natural barrier from abrasion.
“Rupat Island is one of Indonesia’s outlying islands in Riau,” he said on Wednesday. “Mangroves are important to defend the island from a shifting coastline which can reduce Indonesia’s territory.”
Herry said the Riau Police received directives from National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo to handle environmental crimes through transparent, professional and proportional law enforcement.
“We carry out preventive, repressive and restorative efforts to protect the environment. The enforcement was a repressive measure,” he said. “Based on data, Riau has 230,911 hectares of mangrove forests and 15,552 ha on Rupat Island.” - The Jakarta Post/ANN
