China-bound rosewood from Laos seized by Thai Mekong customs

[News Bandit]

NONG KHAI, Aug 29 – Special investigators, customs and provincial officials in this border province, northeastern Thailand's gateway to the Lao PDR, on Wednesday thrashed out legal action against log smugglers after seizing two containers of rare, much prized rosewood from across the Mekong River.

Pol Lt Supat Thamtanarak of the Department of Special Investigation said the smuggled timber which was carried across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to Nong Khai were destined for Klong Toey Port in Bangkok where it would likely be shipped to China, the end-user market.

He said the documents shown at the border checkpoint reported 19,352 pieces, 30 cubic metres, of paduak wood (Pterocarpus) but the authorities found and confiscated 80 per cent of the timber in the containers which was actually rosewood.

He said the Justice Ministrys DSI police unit will see if harsher punishment can be taken against the smugglers in accord with the law.

Rosewood trade on Thailand’s borders has become a multi billion dollar international market driven by Chinese demand. (MCOT online news)

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