Malaysia: Seven detained for possessing gaharu wood worth millions

stephanie lee The Star 5 Feb 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Seven people were nabbed after forest rangers seized protected gaharu wood (agarwood) worth millions of ringgit at a house in Keningau on Feb 2.

Sabah Conservation chief Datuk Sam Mannan said in a statement Monday (Feb 5) that the seven comprising six illegal immigrants and a Cambodian were believed to have obtained the gaharu from protected forests, including parts of the Maliau Basin.

“It is believed that the gaharu is worth millions of ringgit,” he said, adding that the raid was made after a month-long surveillance.

He said it is believed that the seven suspects were involved in the international black market trade.

“We will make sure that these suspects are charged in court for the offence,” he added.


Gaharu wood worth millions seized
The Star 6 Feb 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Seven people were nabbed as forest rangers seized millions worth of gaharu wood, a protected species from a house in Keningau.

Sabah Conservation chief Datuk Sam Mannan said the six illegal immigrants and a Cambodian were believed to have obtained the wood from protected forests, including Maliau Basin.

“The gaharu seized on Feb 2 is worth millions of ringgit,” he said, adding that the raid was conducted after a month-long surveillance.

He said the seven suspects were believed to be involved in the international black market trade.
image: https://video.unrulymedia.com/native/in-art-close-icon-128x128.png

“It looked like it was ready for export.

“We will make sure that these suspects are charged in court for the offence,” he said in a statement.

Karas trees – or aquilaria malaccensis – are being logged by the tens of thousands in Malaysian jungles, mostly by foreigners because of the valuable agarwood, known locally as gaharu.

One kilogramme can fetch between RM4,000 and RM20,000 and its woodchips – which are turned into essential oils used in perfume and incense – fuel a RM26bil global trade every year.

In 2004, the National Forest Inventory estimated there were 3.06 million karas trees in the wild but today, that number has more than halved to 1.16 million, according to the latest data from the Forestry Department.

Sabah Forestry Department recovers agarwood from 8, including Cambodian
SUZIANAH JIFFAR New Straits Times 5 Feb 18;

KENINGAU: Gaharu or Agarwood worth millions were recovered from eight people including a Cambodian who were arrested by the Sabah Forestry Department.

The suspects were held after a month-long surveillance in protected forests deep in the interior of Sabah, including Maliau Basin, also known as the “Lost World”, recently.

Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Sam Mannan said the Gaharu seized is valued in the millions and the trade is linked to international buyers of various countries.

“The seized goods included several consignments of processed Gaharu, kept in dwelling houses, ready for export and a 4-wheel drive vehicle used for transportation to export points.

Of the eight suspects arrested, one was a Malaysian and the seven others were foreigners including the Cambodian.

The Cambodian was also found to be in possesion of an unverified Mykad with permanent residence status, he said.

He said the arrests were made with public cooperation, and the suspects will be brought to court and charged under the Forest Enactment 1968.

“If convicted, the Forestry Department shall apply for deterrent sentences due to the serious occurrences of gaharu theft in Sabah,” he added.

Trade of Gaharu or its scientific name Aquillaria malaccensis is illegal and its listed in Appendix II by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Fauna and Flora.