The department’s director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said the 101 items seized from these forest areas included pickup trucks, motorcycles, and herbicide spraying equipment.

He said the encroachments were detected through patrols, drones, and satellite surveillance, Berita Harian reported.

“Durian trees would be felled using chainsaws, regardless of the tree’s size or the forest’s location,” he said.

“This enforcement action is not cruel, even though many disagree with it. Before any operation is carried out, negotiations are held with the illegal farmers to give them a chance.”

Offenders can be prosecuted under Sections 32, 47, and 50 of the National Forestry Act 1984, which carry penalties including imprisonment and fines.

Zainuddin said that once the durian trees are cut down, the department’s western zone silviculture office replants the area with high-value timber species such as meranti, merbau, perah, and keruing.

According to him, the silviculture office and district enforcement agencies face various challenges, including the remote location of encroachment sites, fenced private land, and narrow, hazardous paths.

“Nonetheless, we continue our enforcement efforts to ensure that forest reserve encroachments do not persist.

“We will not compromise when it comes to forest reserve encroachments for illegal durian farming.”

In 2021, the department cut down about 15,000 Musang King durian trees illegally planted across 101.17 hectares in the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub.

Around 20,000 trees, including merawan, meranti, balau, and keruing, were subsequently planted in the area.

Last month, the department carried out enforcement operations against illegal durian farms in Sungai Ruan and Sungai Klau, Raub.