Riau police intercept mangrove charcoal smuggling operation to Malaysia

After a September 13 tip about illegal mangrove charcoal heading from Rupat Island to Batu Pahat in Malaysia, the Riau Police Special Crimes Directorate deployed detectives to North Rupat district. The team intercepted the KM Million Line GT 34 on Sept. 14 in Teluk Rhu village, detaining the ship's skipper and two crew members. Searches uncovered about 400 sacks of charcoal aboard and another 1,967 sacks in the vicinity, amounting to roughly 65 tonnes.

Further investigation linked the charcoal to a burning site in the village where three large and two small kilns were used to convert mangrove wood into charcoal. In total, authorities seized around 140 tonnes of the material and identified two suspects. The operation highlights ongoing efforts to curb illegal exploitation of mangrove ecosystems and cross-border smuggling.