The vessel, KM AAL Delima, was caught transferring the wood onto a truck at Sagulung Pier, Batam City, on Wednesday (September 3), Bakamla Spokesperson Major Bakamla Yuhanes Antara said on Saturday.
The joint operation, involving Bakamla and Forestry Ministry officers, took place during routine patrols in Riau Islands waters, he said.
An inspection of the vessel uncovered 344 mixed wood logs, 99 meranti logs without barcodes, and no valid shipping documentation.
"The vessel's documents stated the cargo was covered by a Certificate of Processed Timber Forest Products, but the certificate used was for round timber and did not match the cargo," Yuhanes said.
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The ship's captain and crew are currently being questioned by forestry police as witnesses. Authorities are also conducting a recount of the timber at the pier.
Investigators are tracing the timber's intended destination, focusing on companies holding Forest Product Processing Business Permits (PBPHH).
Preliminary findings suggest the vessel violated multiple regulations, including transporting goods inconsistent with shipping documents and misusing a certificate meant for processed timber to cover unprocessed logs.
The suspected violations fall under Law No. 41/1999 on Forestry and Law No. 18/2013 on the Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction.
"The four crew members remain under investigation. We also plan to question the shipping agent today," Yuhanes said, adding that authorities are working to identify the final destination of the timber.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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