BEIJING: Although the smuggling of timber logs from Kachin State has declined, timbers from northern Shan State are now being illegally taken into China, according to sources close to the smugglers.
Timber is smuggled from Kachin to China via vessels docked at jetties in Sagaing Region. The logs are carried by motorbike and sent to Innbarpar under control of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) through Payargine timber ground in Mansi Township.
“In recent days, the army [Tatmadaw] seized about 20 motorbikes at the Ma Dan Yan in Mansi-Gokehtek road section and then they sent those timber smugglers to Mansi Police Station,” said a source.
“In previous years, about 600 tonnes of timber logs per day were sent to China. Now, the number has declined to 50 or 60 tonnes per day. Mostly teak logs were smuggled from Katha Township.”
Currently, some organisations describing themselves as militias are carrying timber from forests in Mandalay and Sagaing regions to China through Pyin Oo Lwin and Naungcho Townships.
