VEHICLES WITH LUMBER INTERCEPTED

(Daily Graphic, Nov 1, 2011, Back Page)

PERSONNEL of the 6th Infantry Battalion on Sunday impounded six Burkina Faso-bound long trucks that were fully loaded with large quantities of illegally sawn lumber.

A military patrol team, led by the Commanding Officer of the 6 BN, Lt Col James Hagan, seized the trucks, each of which was carrying about 4000 pieces of various sizes of wood, on a portion of the Tamale-Kumasi road, near Yapei, between 12 and 4pm.

Five of the trucks, three of which had number plates from Burkina Faso, have been detained at the Kamina Barracks whiles the last one has been stationed at the premises of the Forestry Commission.

The numbers of the vehicles are AS 6305 U, AS 2235 Y, GR 1262 N, 23 GN 5067, 23 GL 3484 and 11 HH 6729.

Briefing newsmen at the Kamina Barracks, Lt Col Hagan said the team was on its usual patrol when it came across the fleet of long vehicles.

He said checks revealed that the vehicles were carrying lumber, but the receipts presented by the drivers raised suspicions.

The receipts, which were shown to the press, indicated, shockingly, that the company that owned the lumber – Reddo God’s Way Entreprise – paid only GH¢230 for each of the truck loads to the Techiman Municipal Assembly.

Lt Col Hagan said the seizure of the illegal logs was in line with Operation Hot II, which was launched by National Security to stop illegal mining, chain saw operation and illegal occupation of government owned lands, as well as building on waterways.

“Those dealing in the business of illegal logging are depriving the state of huge sums of revenue,” he stated.

He said aside the loss of revenue, illegal log dealers were also depleting the country’s forest resources at an alarming rate.

Lt Col Hagan warned all those who planned using borders in the north as a conduit to transport illegal lawns from the country to be wary because the military was up to the task of bringing such persons to book.

“Although the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement allows free trading and movement across our borders, it does not permit the movement of illegal goods through these borders,” he added.