Two Filipinos nabbed harvesting mangrove bark in Sabah
BELURAN: The General Operations Force’s (PGA) 20th Battalion detained two Filipino men for illegally harvesting tangar or mangrove tree bark at a forest reserve in Pulau Jambongan, Paitan yesterday.
Its commander ACP Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir said the team, assisted by the Forestry Department personnel, detained the two men, aged 36 and 37, during the operation dubbed ‘Ops Khazanah’ at 5 pm yesterday.
“While patrolling the area, the suspects were caught skinning the mangrove bark using an axe.
“An inspection carried out also found four piles of mangrove bark, each of which was estimated to weigh one tonne and valued about RM52,000 in the current market,” he said in a statement today.
Mohd Nasaruddin said the suspects were taken to the Beluran district police headquarters for further action.
Bernama
