SFD director Sapuan Ahmad said apart from the confiscated timber, enforcement officers also seized a bandsaw believed to have been used to process the timber.

Sapuan said investigation papers would be opened to estimate the value of the seized items.

“The investigation will be carried out based on Chapter 71 of the Forest Ordinance 2015. If convicted, the perpetrators would face severe punishment,” he was quoted by the local daily as saying.

Since taking office in 2014, Chief Minister Adenan Satem has taken a tough stance against illegal logging by ceasing the issuance of timber concessions and commercial plantation licences.

In January, Adenan said the state government’s firm actions had borne fruit with some 36 illegal sawmills shutting down because there were no more raw materials and stolen logs.