A group of people in Nghe An set up a checkpoint and displayed a sign saying 'no filming or taking photos' to illegally exploit the forest.
(Baonghean.vn) - The group confessed to having exploited and transported out of the forest 4 times with a total amount of wood of more than 20 m3. The above amount of wood was sold to civil wood production facilities, fuel use, and tea drying kilns in Thanh Chuong district (Nghe An).
| Clip of police arresting 4 subjects with evidence of illegal deforestation. |
Around the beginning of July 2019, Team 4, Environmental Police Department (Nghe An Provincial Police) received information that some subjects were illegally exploiting forests and converting forest purposes in violation of regulations, so they established Project 719R to fight against them.
Through professional measures, the Special Investigation Committee determined that in sub-area 996 in Thanh An commune, Thanh Chuong district, there were a number of subjects illegally exploiting, burning, cutting down forest products (wood) and natural forests to plant acacia.
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| The subjects set up guard posts, kept watch and hung signs prohibiting filming and recording. Photo: Minh Khoi |
Approaching the area where the subjects are exploiting the objects to fight is very difficult because the subjects have set up guard posts and lookouts.
On July 29, with information that the subjects were organizing the transportation of the exploited wood for consumption, the Task Force decided to crack the case.
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| The car and the amount of wood the subjects transported for sale. Photo: Minh Khoi |
At about 11 p.m. the same day, when the subjects arrived at Hamlet 6, Thanh Huong Commune, the Environmental Police Department conducted a blockade and arrested 4 subjects including: Tran Quoc Son (born in 1990), residing in Hamlet 3, Thanh Thuy Commune; Le Ngoc Truong (born in 1986) and Hoang Van Thang (born in 1979), both residing in Hamlet 1, Thanh An Commune; Tran Van Hai (born in 1983), residing in Hamlet 9, Thanh Thinh Commune, Thanh Chuong District.
Evidence seized at the scene included 1 car whose inspection had expired, about 6m3 of round wood from groups 6 to 8; 2 chainsaws, 1 knife and 3 motorbikes.
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| 4 illegal forest exploiters were arrested. Photo: Minh Khoi |
Through the investigation, the subjects confessed that they had exploited and transported out of the forest 4 times with a total amount of wood of more than 20 m3. The above amount of wood was sold by the 4 subjects to civil wood production facilities, fuel use, and tea drying kilns in Thanh Chuong district.
Currently, the Environmental Police Department is conducting an extended investigation and coordinating with relevant units to handle the subjects according to the provisions of law.
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| Authorities examine the scene. Photo: Minh Khoi |