Seized timber moved from Ranong forest as Phuket-linked land holdings probed

Forestry officials on April 28 began moving seized timber from Khao Pak Tiam forest in Suk Samran district, Ranong, in a case tied to forest encroachment and land documents linked to Phuket investors. Authorities counted 438 logs with a total volume of 461.85 cubic meters and an estimated value of B50 million, with the timber to be stored at the ground in front of the Suk Samran District Office.

The operation was led by the Royal Forest Department’s Phaya Suea task force with Ranong natural resources officials, forest officers from Surat Thani, environmental police and district administrators. Officials said transport support came from the Forest Industry Organization’s southern office and machinery from the Ranong Provincial Administration Organization, with the move expected to take about one week.

Land records review points to 100 rai forest overlap

Authorities said the first batch had already been marked by officials, and custody was assigned to Ranong forestry officers and district officials after relocation.

Chanchai Kijsakdaphap, head of the Phaya Suea task force, said drone flights found more logging on high ground in several locations. A previous foot survey found about 300 more large protected trees, mostly restricted species, and officials are preparing measurements and an inventory so they can be removed with the first lot.

Ranong Land Office has handed cadastral maps and land registers to investigators for overlay checks between documented plots and forest boundaries. Preliminary findings indicate some seized timber piles were inside about 100 rai of forest, while a review of 105 land plots found more than half were held by business figures from Phuket and some had later been transferred to three corporate entities.

Source: https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/5819854/