SFC seizes 561 illegal mangrove poles

KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) enforcement officers from its Kuching Regional Office today detained a lorry carrying illegal mangrove poles at Jalan Stephen Yong here today.
SFC in a statement said the team was patrolling along the area when they detected a suspicious lorry, which led them to a store at Jalan Stephen Yong, and upon checking they found 105 pieces of mangrove poles in the lorry.
"An extended search in the area subsequently revealed another 456 poles on the ground, believed to be extracted from a forest near Sungai Rayu. Upon further checking, the driver failed to show any documents on the poles," according to the statement.
A police report on the case had been made at Batu Kawa Police Station and the detained lorry and poles will be handed over to Forest Department for further investigation and disposal.
SFC further reminded members of the public especially contractors to purchase timber only from legal sources. — Bernama