MALACCA: The state Customs Department believes it has busted a timber-smuggling syndicate after confiscating about 50 tonnes of timber, worth an estimated RM25,000, from an Indonesian vessel here on Wednesday.

The seizure occurred at 8.20am after a Customs patrol unit spotted a blue wooden vessel, believed to have been waiting for high tide, in the waters off Pulau Besar.

The officers' suspicions were raised when they noticed that the boat was loaded with about 500 pieces of sawn timber (Beruti) of various sizes with a surface area of more than 60 sq inches.

Such timber is a completely-prohibited import commodity and Malaysia had imposed a ban on the import of squared logs measuring more than 60 sq inches since June 2003.

Quick action by the five-member Customs team enabled them to successfully apprehend the boat's four crew members.
The four Indonesian men, aged between 28 and 39, are believed to be the skipper and his crew and are being detained under seven days' remand.

Customs deputy director-general (prevention) Datuk Mardina Alwi said the seizure of timber, which was the first this year, showed that syndicates had reactivated their smuggling of prohibited imported items after a short lull.

She said the boat, registered in Dumai, Indonesia as Seagull GT.72 No. 294 PPL, had been carrying timber commonly used to make furniture.

The Customs has contacted the Malaysian Timber Industry Board to verify the type of log and assess its combined value.

According to Mardina, who was speaking during a press conference at the Sungai Rambai jetty yesterday, the four suspects and the boat were brought to port.

She urged the public to inform Customs officials of any suspicious activity in the area and said arrests made from any information received would entitle the informant to a reward.

"The Customs Department will increase marine and land surveillance in an effort to uncover suspected smuggling activities, and stern action in accordance with the law will be taken against anyone found to be involved," Mardina said.

Customs Superintendent Muhammad Fuad Lee Abdullah said Indonesian authorities often could not control illegal logging and that it was a mutual understanding between both countries to work together to prevent smuggling activities.

Also present at the press conference was state Customs director Basri Bahrom and state Customs Prevention Department chief Yusof Talib.