Arresting a group of 'forest bandits' cutting down precious wood in a conservation area

Dozens of people brazenly entered the core area of ​​Ea So Nature Reserve (Ea Kar district, Dak Lak province) to cut down dozens of precious trees and were discovered and arrested by authorities.

A herd of wild buffaloes was discovered in the Ea So Nature Reserve. The shooter seriously injured the Head of the Forest Ranger Station of the Ea So Nature Reserve and turned himself in. Another wild buffalo was murdered in the Ea So Nature Reserve, Dak Lak.

On October 4, information from the Ea Kar District Police, Dak Lak Province said that the unit is temporarily detaining three suspects: Le Mo Y Cuong (36 years old), Ha Ra Y Trang (23 years old) and La O Y Em (17 years old, all residing in Zo village, Ea Ly commune, Song Hinh district, Phu Yen province) to investigate and clarify the act of "Forest destruction".

In addition to the three arrested subjects, the Ea Kar District Police Investigation Agency is also coordinating with relevant agencies to arrest the remaining subjects for handling according to regulations.

Scene of the logging incident (Photo provided by the investigation agency).

According to initial information, at around 9:00 a.m. on September 28, the Ea So Nature Reserve rangers patrolled Sub-area 622 (belonging to the Ea So Nature Reserve) and discovered a group of people illegally exploiting and transporting wood. Immediately, the working group surrounded and arrested the three subjects.

"Due to the rugged terrain, taking advantage of the rain, the remaining subjects quickly escaped," said Mr. Le Dac Y, director of Ea So Nature Reserve.

Scene of the logging incident (Photo provided by the investigation agency).

Through the investigation of the scene, it was found that the subjects had cut down a total of 26 rosewood trees with diameters ranging from 20-35cm. Most of these trees had their trunks taken away, leaving only the roots and tops at the scene. In addition, the authorities also discovered at a nearby location 23 boxes of sawn timber and 8 logs of timber that had been neatly cut by the group of "loggers" in preparation for transporting them out of the forest.

Scene of the logging incident (Photo provided by the investigation agency).

According to the statements of the 3 subjects at the investigation agency, from September 26 to September 28, the 3 subjects along with about 10 other subjects (all residing in Zo village) entered the above area to exploit many rosewood trees, cut them into boxes and sell them. On September 28, while the subjects continued to enter to transport the remaining logs, they were discovered and arrested by the authorities.

Currently, the Ea Kar District Police are continuing to investigate, expand, and arrest the remaining subjects. Through CAND Newspaper, the Ea Kar District Police call on the remaining subjects to come forward soon to receive leniency from the law.

According to CAND