Jambi – Illegal logging in Jambi has escalated, causing the state to suffer billions of rupiah in losses as seen in the rising number of cases handled by the local police.

Jambi Police data indicates that the number of cases of log theft in the province has skyrocketed from only 18 with 23 suspects in 2003 to 74 with 136 suspects in 2005.

The police also confiscated 2,998 cubic meters of wood, 28,883 illegally harvested logs, 20 trucks and a number of chainsaws as evidence in 2005. By comparison the confiscated evidence in 2003 consisted of 2,896 cubic meters of wood, 333 logs, one tug boat and 14 trucks.

In the first half of this year, Jambi Police had processed 14 cases involving 24 suspects with confiscated evidence consisting of 234 pieces of processed wood, 24,103 cubic meters of wood, 4,887 logs, two tug boats, two chain saws and 52 trucks.

"However, the prosecution of the suspects is hindered by many problems," Jambi Police officer Adj. Sr. Comr. Puji Prasethanto Hadi said Thursday.

The problems investigators faced include conflicting regulations, he said. "The arduous and time-consuming procedures further worsen the situation," he said, adding there were many regulations which were in conflict with one another.

It's better now to review the many conflicting regulations to prevent confusion among field officials over which regulation to act on, he added.