Jertih: A total of 383 logs and three sawmill machines worth RM338,300 were seized during Op Bersepadu Khazanah at a sawmill in Kampung Gong Tengah here yesterday. General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade Commander SAC Ahmad Radzi Hussain said the raid, conducted at about 4.30 pm, was carried out by its Intelligence Branch in collaboration with the Terengganu Forestry Department.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the team found four men at the premise before carrying out further inspections. Checks revealed that the four men had failed to produce timber taxation documents when requested by the authorities. A thorough inspection of the premise uncovered 383 logs and three sawmill machines believed to have been used to process the timber.

Ahmad Radzi stated that the three seized sawmill machines were estimated to be worth RM300,000, while the 383 logs were valued at approximately RM38,300. All four men, aged between 40 and 52, who worked at the sawmill, were detained, and the seized items were handed over to the Terengganu Forestry Department for further action.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the four suspects had been working at the sawmill for only four days and were compensated based on the amount of timber processed, at RM110 per tonne. Statements recorded from the suspects also suggested that the timber supply was believed to have been sourced from Temerloh, Pahang, and Kuala Betis, Gua Musang, Kelantan, before being transported to Jertih for processing.

The case is being investigated under the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313) and the Wood-Based Industry Enactment 1985.