JAKARTA: Officers from the Mobile Detective Unit (Buser) from the Donggala Regency Police in Central Sulawesi have foiled an attempt to smuggle ebony to Malaysia. The 250 cubic meters of timber had been loaded on a boat at a beach in Siweli village, Balaesang, on the west coast of Donggala regency.
Donggala Police Crimes and Intelligence Unit chief Adj. Comr. Laurence told media the boat’s skipper, identified only as U, and crew members were currently being held at the Donggala Police station.
According to Lawrence, the team is currently hunting two owners of the boat and cargo, identified only as L and F. They hail from Balaesang village, Tanjung Balaesang district.“We have held the boat skipper and crew and named them suspects,” said Lawrence.
Based on preliminary investigation, he added, the perpetrators claimed the timber was to have been brought out to sea to be transshipped to another boat.
“From there, the timber would be sent to Tawau, Sabah, East Malaysia, and picked up by a buyer named Wong for Rp 500 million (US$38,500).
