A resident of Malino Village, Balaesang District, Donggala Regency, has officially reported suspected illegal logging of mangrove trees to the police. This report was triggered by the widespread logging of the coastal protection trees for commercial interests.
Rahman, the resident who filed the complaint, went to the Donggala Police Headquarters on Saturday (1/8/2026). He submitted an official complaint letter and is now waiting for follow-up from the Special Criminal Investigation Unit (Tipidter) of the Donggala Police Detective and Crime Unit (Satreskrim) for the issuance of an official Police Report (LP).
According to Rahman, this destruction of the coastal ecosystem clearly violates forestry regulations that protect mangrove areas from illegal exploitation. Based on the Forestry Law, any tree-cutting activity in protected forest areas or coastal buffers without official permits is a criminal offense.
This illegal practice was uncovered when Rahman caught a pickup truck with license plate DN 8191 BY loading wet mangrove logs at the estuary of Dusun III Nelayan, Malino Village. The driver admitted to purchasing the wood from a local businessman identified as S to be delivered to a patchouli oil distillation site in Dampelas District.
This illegal activity involving businessman S is suspected to have been ongoing for a long time. In 2020, village authorities along with Tripika elements (Sub-district Head, Military District Commander, Police Chief) and forestry police had actually provided guidance and a stern warning to S to cease his activities, but the warning seems to have been ignored. Rahman hopes that law enforcement officers will act swiftly and firmly to prevent more severe damage to the coastal ecology.
