Bangkok: The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment is expediting the resolution of the problem of managing confiscated timber by urgently proposing to the Cabinet to unlock it so that it can be sold. He also urged the expansion of the case of theft of confiscated rosewood in Sakon Nakhon Province. He emphasized that the Royal Forest Department should take care of the morale of the officers who were injured in the incident.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), revealed that he had received a report from Mr. Surachai Achalaboon, Director-General of the Royal Forest Department, regarding the issuance of an arrest warrant for one of the perpetrators who had intruded into the area of the Forest Protection Unit at Police Station 2 (Warit-Panna), Ban Kut Takab, Waritchaphum District, Sakon Nakhon Province. This unit is a local level agency under the Royal Forest Department, and the intruder had assaulted the officers and stolen the gove
rnment shotgun and the rosewood as evidence. It was found that the perpetrator was a civil servant of the Royal Forest Department who had previously worked at the Forest Protection Unit at Police Station 2, leading to his temporary suspension from service. Authorities have been urged to closely monitor the prosecution process in cooperation with the police officers to prosecute the perpetrators who were arrested and to expand the investigation.
For the injured officers, Chalermchai has emphasized the importance of taking good care of their welfare to boost the morale of those working in the area. Additionally, he has instructed the agencies responsible for storing seized wood nationwide, particularly the six valuable types of wood-ebony, rosewood, padauk, makha, and red teak, which are prohibited from being sold-to implement stricter measures to monitor and safeguard these resources. These measures include storing the wood in tightly locked buildings equipped with 24-hour security guards and CCTV cameras. Sh
ould any such incidents occur again or if seized wood is lost, those responsible will be held accountable.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is contemplating a proposal to the Cabinet to unlock the sale of seized timber. This proposal, put forth by the Royal Forest Department, aims to allow the Ministry’s agencies, in addition to the Forest Industry Organization (FIO), to sell seized timber currently being stored in large quantities. This would help prevent timber deterioration and loss, while also generating income for the state.