Suspected 'gaharu' collector nabbed
Thursday, May 24, 2007
A FOREIGN national from a neighbouring country was caught by the Royal Brunei Police Force's Forest Rangers for illegal logging following two separate operations that were conducted from May 16 to 23.
The operations, conducted in Kuala Belalong in Temburong; and the Sungai Ingai and Sungai Biaral area in Labi, Belait District, ended with the confiscation of two home-made shotguns. The foreign national was taken to the Bangar police station in Temburong for further investigation.
During the operation at the Sungai Biaral area in Kuala Belait, 16 police rangers of the RBPF came across a group of people that fled the scene. The police believe that the unidentified group intended to collect gaharu or sandalwood. Gaharu is a high value forest product derived from the Aquilaria tree, and is mainly used for its aromatic and medicinal properties.
At least two arrests are made by authorities every year in the sultanate for the illegal collection of the gaharu.
Hunters are known to spend between a week and a month in the forests searching for the precious wood resin.
"Gaharu trade is a lucrative business," said Fikri of Syarikat Perniagaan Syawami, a local company specialising in nursery products.
"It is the most expensive wood in the world. On average, 1,000 grammes of gaharu can fetch between US$2,000 and US$3,000 ($3,058 - $4,585) depending on the quality of the grade.
The Brunei Times
The operations, conducted in Kuala Belalong in Temburong; and the Sungai Ingai and Sungai Biaral area in Labi, Belait District, ended with the confiscation of two home-made shotguns. The foreign national was taken to the Bangar police station in Temburong for further investigation.
During the operation at the Sungai Biaral area in Kuala Belait, 16 police rangers of the RBPF came across a group of people that fled the scene. The police believe that the unidentified group intended to collect gaharu or sandalwood. Gaharu is a high value forest product derived from the Aquilaria tree, and is mainly used for its aromatic and medicinal properties.
At least two arrests are made by authorities every year in the sultanate for the illegal collection of the gaharu.
Hunters are known to spend between a week and a month in the forests searching for the precious wood resin.
"Gaharu trade is a lucrative business," said Fikri of Syarikat Perniagaan Syawami, a local company specialising in nursery products.
"It is the most expensive wood in the world. On average, 1,000 grammes of gaharu can fetch between US$2,000 and US$3,000 ($3,058 - $4,585) depending on the quality of the grade.
The Brunei Times
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