A massive government-led crackdown on illegal timber smuggling from Indonesia to China has been praised by environmental group Telepak.
But Telepak said major criminal networks behind the illegal trade in merbau logs from Papua had not been broken despite the campaign.
The crackdown, which involved the police and military, was launched following the publication of a report by the Environmental Investigative Agency and Telepak. The groups said the trade in merbau represented the world’s largest smuggling racket involving one species, worth some US$1bn a year.
Within three months of the report’s release, police had arrested 173 suspects and seized more than 385,000m3 of logs. Files were also submitted on at least 25 suspects, which included several Papua police officers.
The campaign affected the merbau market, especially in the hardwood flooring market, with shortages and price rises reported in Indonesia and China.
Telepak said the crackdown failed to keep up its momentum and has not stopped the country’s rapid deforestation rate.
