Joint law enforcement operatives apprehended a ten-wheeler truck for transporting 477 pieces of illegally cut hardwood lumber amounting approximately ₱794,000 at Surigao Baseport, Surigao City on 18 July 2021.

The hardwood lumber, locally known as ‘lauan’, were loaded at Cortes, Surigao del Sur bound for Cebu City on board a RoRo vessel.

Personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Surigao del Norte, Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted joint inspection and found out that the hardwood lumber were intentionally concealed using several pieces of coco lumber.

Moreover, the joint law enforcement operatives arrested the truck driver, a 33-year-old resident of Barangay Salawagan, Quezon, Bukidnon for violating Section 77 of Presidential Decree 705 as amended by Republic Act No. 7161 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines due to lack of necessary documents and permits pertaining to the transport of said illegally cut hardwood lumber.

The inventory of confiscated items were performed by the DENR - Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Tubod.

As of today, 23 July 2021, the ten-wheeler truck containing the hardwood lumber remains under the custody of the DENR - CENRO Tubod to serve as evidence in court, with the truck driver remains under the custody of the Surigao City Police Station for proper disposition and filing of case.