Hendrik Yaputra, Jakarta – President Prabowo Subianto has vowed a stringent crackdown on all illegal logging activities following the devastating disaster in Sumatra.

"In fact, I want to crack down on all of it. We will crack down on illegal logging. We have already started cracking down on it. We have planned everything carefully," Prabowo stated in Langkat, North Sumatra, on Saturday, December 13, 2025, as monitored on the President's Secretariat YouTube channel.

The Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Department, in collaboration with the Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry, is currently investigating a suspected case of illegal logging linked to the Sumatra floods. This suspicion arose after numerous large, cut logs were discovered swept away by the floodwaters.

Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo confirmed that a team has been deployed to the locations where the logs were found. "There are potential issues that we need to follow up on because there are allegations of violations," Listyo said on Thursday, December 4, 2025.

According to the Police Chief, the logs found in the aftermath of the Sumatra flood were neatly cut. The findings from the field inspection will be thoroughly investigated to ascertain the origin of these logs. "We will delve into it," Listyo told reporters.

The Police Chief also confirmed suspicions that the flood disaster may be connected to other violations. "There are findings of logs that are suspected to be linked to violations," Listyo revealed, suggesting these activities may have contributed to the environmental damage that led to the disaster. However, he did not elaborate further on the alleged violations he referenced.

Meanwhile, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli disclosed that his ministry has successfully identified twenty companies suspected of being involved in activities related to the disaster. "The identification of legal entities that may be involved has been conducted," Raja Juli confirmed.

While he did not elaborate on the names of these companies, the PSI politician confirmed that, as of now, these dozens of companies have not yet been examined.

– Vedro Imanuel Girsang contributed to this report

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2073189/prabowo-vows-crackdown-on-illegal-logging-after-sumatra-disaste