KUANTAN: Three men were held when they were caught trying to transport six meranti logs without any permit at Bukit Ibam in Rompin.
The three men aged between 26 and 67 were intercepted by the state Forestry department enforcement unit on Saturday at about 7.45pm.
The department’s east Pahang senior assistant director Zahariah Zainal Abidin said the logs were found inside a three-tonne lorry.
He said the department is now trying to establish where the logs came from and the three men will be detained further for investigations.
"We will take action under Section 15 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Amendment 1993).
“If convicted they can be punished with RM500,000 fine and imprisonment up to 20 years, or both (penalties),” he said.
Zahariah said the success follows on going monitoring of main routes used to transports timber illegally.
He said the department have issued an order for increased patrols in such 'hot areas' and cooperate with the local community.
Zahariah also assured that investigations will be carried out on sawmills that orders illegally fell logs or timbers.
He stressed the department is commited in stamping out log thieves who destroy the national forest heritage.