Illegally harvested processed teak logs worth millions of baht were seized by the Border Patrol, provincial police and forestry officials in two different sub-districts in Mae Hong Son Wednesday, November 11.
79 teak logs were found and seized by the BPP squads, Mae Ngao National Park officials , Ban Mae Koh forestry officials, local police and Sub Moei District Administration officials, in the forest near Ban Mae Lui, Tambon Mae Suad in Sob Moei district, Mae Hong Son.
Another further 150 teak logs were also confiscated by officials from the Huay Sing Forest Preservation and Protection Unit, the Salween National Park and BPP ranger forces based in Tambon Mae Sam Laeb, near Salween river banks.
337th Border Patrol (BPP) Company officials, led by Pol. Lt-Col. Sippanant, deputy superintendent of the 33rd BPP, based in Mae Sariang District, Mae Hong Son, believe that the teak is actually being harvested in Thailand’s national forests and is then transferred into Burma, opposite Tak’s Ta Song Yang district, to be processed. The processed wood is brought back into Thailand for transportation and sale.
The police suspect a joint effort between Thai nationals and the DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) to illegally harvest golden teakwood from Thailand. It is believed that the abundance of landmines in the forests in Burma, plus increased vigilance by Burmese authorities, have brought the DKBA over the border into Thailand to harvest teak.
Officials report that due to the large number of logs seized in Mae Sam Laeb, it will take some time before enough equipment and elephants can be brought to the area to remove the teak.
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