Nine forest rangers from Cư Jút District Forest Protection Division in the Central Highlands province of Đắk Nông were disciplined for mismanagement and irresponsibility.

The illegal timber that police and border guard officers in Đắk Nông found on April 27. Two trucks were found to carry the timber at some 3.40am from the Yok Đôn National Park on the border of Đắk Nông and Đắk Lắk provinces. 

Their actions allegedly resulted in the illegal logging of hundreds of cubic metres of timber.

Among the errant rangers are the head and two vice heads of the Cư Jút District Forest Protection Division — Trần Văn Giảng, Lê Lam Sơn and Hoàng Thiết — as well as the head of Đắk Wil District Forest Protection Division, Hồ Trường Sơn.

Lê Trọng Yên, director of the province’s Agriculture Department, said on Thursday besides disciplinary action, the rangers may face criminal charges after police complete their investigation into the large-scale illegal logging operation that came to light late last month.

On April 27, police and border guard officers in Đắk Nông found 40.2 cu.m. of timber being carried away in two trucks at some 3.40am from the Yok Đôn National Park on the border of Đắk Nông and Đắk Lắk provinces.

The two truck drivers - Trần Lưu Lân and Hồ Trọng Dũng - failed to present legitimate documents specifying the origin of the timber. They told the police that the timber was being taken to a workshop of Long Vũ Company in Cư Jút District specialising in the production of wooden products. The company is owned by Phan Hữu Phượng, known as “Moustache Phượng”, a resident of EaT’ling Town.

Investigators searched five locations where the illicit ring stored their timber and confiscated nearly 210cu.m. of wood as well as multiple trucks, cars, tractors and chainsaws.

On May 3, Đắk Nông Police initiated legal proceedings against five members involved in the large-scale illegal logging operation headed by Phượng.

The suspects were charged with violating regulations on the exploitation, protection and management of forest products under Article 232 of the Penal Code. — VNS