Jakarta – Indonesia has deployed hundreds of environmental inspectors to investigate 42 companies suspected of being linked to land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. At the same time, forestry authorities have arrested a Vietnamese national in a separate probe into an international pangolin trafficking network.
The Ministry of Environment and Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH) said on Thursday, August 27, that the companies were being investigated following initial monitoring that identified links between their operations and fire hotspots.
Inspectors are assessing the causes and extent of the fires, and whether companies complied with their obligations to prevent and control fires, the ministry said.
“We are responding quickly by deploying Environmental Inspectors to ensure all incidents are investigated seriously and comprehensively,” said Rizal Irawan, the ministry’s deputy for environmental law enforcement.
The investigation has already led to the sealing of PT Sinar Karya Mandiri in Ketapang, West Kalimantan, where satellite imagery and field inspections indicated about 1,500 hectares had burned, the ministry said.
Inspectors also found hotspots and smoke in parts of the area during their investigation, raising concerns over possible environmental damage and failures to prevent and control fires.
Companies found to have violated regulations could face administrative, civil or criminal sanctions, depending on the size of the burned area, environmental impact and severity of the violation, the ministry said. Repeated violations could lead to criminal proceedings regardless of the area affected.
The government has declared a “zero tolerance” approach toward companies that deliberately or negligently cause land fires, the ministry said.
Wildlife trafficking probe
Separately, the Forestry Ministry said on Thursday, August 27, it had arrested a Vietnamese national identified as VXH in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, as investigators pursue an alleged international network trafficking pangolin scales.
VXH was detained on Wednesday following an investigation into the seizure of about 3,053 kg of pangolin scales at Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok port in February.
The shipment had been disguised as another commodity and was believed to have been destined for overseas markets, the ministry said.
Investigators subsequently traced information about VXH’s presence in Indonesia and, with support from customs authorities and police, located and detained him for questioning, the ministry said.
Forestry law enforcement chief Dwi Januanto Nugroho said authorities would seek to identify others involved in the trafficking chain, including those operating internationally.
“Indonesia will not become a safe space or trade route for international wildlife crime networks,” he said.
The investigation follows another case involving the seizure of 796.34 kg of pangolin scales at Merak Port, as well as other cases involving protected wildlife, the ministry said. (nsh)
Banner photo: Warning sign put up by the Ministry of Environment indicating the area under investigation for violation of the environmental protection law. Source: Ministry of Environment.
