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Ebony smuggling rampant in Central Sulawesi
The Jakarta Post, Palu | Archipelago | Thu, October 17 2013, 6:46 AM
The smuggling of rare ebony, endemic to Central Sulawesi, has been frequently taking place in the Makassar Strait and is destined for Tawau, East Malaysia.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Ari Dono Sukmanto told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that police had deployed the Water and Air Police Directorate, which would work together with the Navy to arrest the smugglers.
The pursuit is being carried out following the arrest of two people identified by the initials JF and ML early this month. Police have also seized at least 112 ebony logs in the Makassar Strait.
“Both suspects hail from Pasangkayu, Mamuju, in West Sulawesi. They were arrested in the jurisdiction of Central Sulawesi,” said Ari.
“They bribed the local officers as much as Rp 15 million [US$1,300],” said Ari, adding the officers could be from the police as well as the customs office.
According to him, the widespread smuggling is due to the high price of ebony. A high quality board measuring 30-by-70 centimeters could be sold for up to Rp 5 million.
The ebony timber will be processed and sold to various countries at up to $5,000 per cubic-meter.