Chief of Police announced the determination of suspects in the illegal logging case that triggered floods in Sumatra

OKE FLORES.COM - Chief of Police, General Police Officer Listyo Sigit Prabowo conveyed the latest developments regarding the investigation into the alleged illegal logging in the Tapanuli area, North Sumatra.

According to Sigit, the investigators have upgraded the case status and have now determined a suspect regarding illegal activities that are said to have contributed to the occurrence of flooding in the area.

"We formed a task force in Tapanuli, yesterday we have submitted the fingerprints. The suspect has also been found," said Sigit on Friday, December 12, 2025.

Nevertheless, the former Banten Police Chief has not yet revealed the perpetrator's identity. He emphasized that the investigation team is still working to further explore the findings on the ground.

"Tim is descending, let the team explain themselves because the task force is working, it will be explained further later," he said.

Previously, the Directorate of Specific Crimes (Dittipidter) of Bareskrim Polri found elements of criminal acts in the case of alleged illegal logging in the Garoga and Anggoli watershed areas, North Sumatra.

With this finding, the case handling officially entered the investigation stage, as stated by the Director of Tipidter Bareskrim Polri, Brigadier General Police Mohammad Irhamni.

"Garoga and Anggoli have already been escalated to the investigation process at the crime scene," he said on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

In addition, the suspicion of illegal logging activities in Aceh has once again drawn attention. The Dittipidter Bareskrim Polri team found suspicious tree cutting and land clearing activities in the upper part of Tamiang River, an area that should be protected.

"Initial information from the upper part of Tamiang River shows illegal logging and land clearing activities by the community," said Irhamni, Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

From the field examination, an organized working pattern was revealed. The perpetrators are said to wait for the time when the river water level rises to float the cut logs. For large trees, the wood is cut into smaller pieces to be easily carried by the current.

"The log raft mechanism, the wood is cut, stacked on the riverbank, and then floated away when the water rises like a raft," added Irhamni.***