More than 100 illegally harvested teak tree logs worth about 1.3 million baht have been seized in a forest reserve in Uttaradit province.
Soldiers and forestry officials inspect teak logs, 117 in total, illegally felled in the last few days in a forest reserve in Uttaradit province on Jan 16. (Photo by Boonnum Kerdkaew)
A joint military-police team on Friday found the timber in a clearing in Huay Kiangpa-Nam Krai national forest reserve in tambon Dan Nakham of the northern province's Muang district.
Pol Col Somjai Rodsukcharoen, head of a security operations centre, said the raid followed a complaint that illegal logging was rampant in the area.
Authorities found 117 illegally-felled teak logs in the clearing, which was clearly used for hauling out the timber, he said.
An initial examination showed these logs were freshly cut, only 2-3 days before they were found.
Nobody was spotted in the area or nearby during the raid. The teak logs, worth an estimated 1.3 million baht, were seized and stored at the Khaopheung-Ban Dan forest park in Muang district of the province.