KEPALA BATAS: Timber logs and equipment worth RM1.863mil were seized during a raid on an illegal sawmill in Seberang Perai Utara, with two suspects arrested.
General Operations Force northern brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said the seizure on Wednesday by the Internal Security and Public Order Department of the police and Penang Forestry Department was conducted under Ops Sawmill.
He said the two local men were believed to be workers at the factory, adding that a joint inspection with the Forestry Department found the premises being used to collect and process logs without approval.
“The operator had bought and cut logs without any permit or approval from the Penang Forestry Department,” he said in a statement, Bernama reported.
SAC Balveer Singh said the inspection also found that the licences of the sawmill, plywood, veneer and blockboard had expired last Dec 31, raising issues of non-compliance with forestry regulations and timber industry licensing.
SAC Balveer Singh said in the operation, his party seized various types of log cutting and processing machines, various types of logs and a lorry believed to be used to transport logs.
He said the case would be handled by the Penang Forestry Department for investigation under Section 68(1) of the National Forestry Act 1984.
He also appealed to the public for information on the illegal storing and processing of logs.
