Lam Dong: Large-scale illegal pine logging busted

According to the Investigation Police Agency of Lam Dong Provincial Police, on August 1, 2025, Lam Dong Provincial Police issued a decision to prosecute and execute an arrest warrant to detain four subjects: Dinh Duy Dao (born: 1981, residing in Lam Vien ward, Da Lat city); Tran Van Van (born: 1980, residing in Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district); Tran Van Bac (born: 1971, residing in Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district); Le Van Tam (born: 1975, residing in Xuan Huong ward, Da Lat city).

The subjects were prosecuted for the crime of “Violating regulations on exploitation and protection of forests and forest products” under Article 232 of the 2015 Penal Code, amended and supplemented in 2017. The case involved the illegal felling of 68 three-leaf pine trees in lots 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, section 5, sub-area 224, Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district. Many of these trees were ancient pine trees with diameters ranging from 1 m to 1.2 m, with a total volume of damaged wood of more than 150 m³.

During the patrols on July 14 and July 19, 2025, the forest protection force of Lam Ha Forest Protection Management Board discovered signs of illegal logging in sub-area 224. Considering the seriousness of the incident, the Lam Dong Provincial Police Department directed the Economic Police Department (PC03) to coordinate with Lam Ha Forest Protection Management Board, Lam Ha Forest Protection Department and Phu Son Commune Police to investigate.

Through screening, the four subjects were identified as having many signs of violations. Initially, the subjects stubbornly refused to admit their actions, but when faced with the collected evidence, the subjects bowed their heads and admitted.

Investigation results show that from May 2025 to early July 2025, Tran Van Van, Le Van Tam and Tran Van Bac organized the felling of 68 pine trees, cutting them into 25-30 cm long pieces, using axes and knives to separate the resin, each time exploiting 200-600 kg of pine resin to sell to Dinh Duy Dao, who was responsible for purchasing and transporting it for consumption.

On July 26, 2025, Da Lat Forest Protection Department coordinated with functional forces to search locations where evidence was hidden in Da Lat City, seizing a large amount of illegal timber and forest products. At a laundry and drying workshop in Lam Vien Ward, functional forces discovered 4 bags of firewood, 15 pieces of firewood and 79 pieces of pine wood, with a total weight of about 1.44 steres.

At a warehouse in LangBiang ward, the investigation agency seized 95 bags of pine firewood weighing 2,299 kg and 107 logs/logs, totaling 5,861 m³. At the scene of sub-area 224, more than 146 m³ of group IV three-leaf pine roundwood was recorded and handed over to the Lam Ha Forest Protection Management Board for management.

Currently, PC03 Department of Lam Dong Provincial Police is consolidating the case file and expanding the investigation to clarify the role of the individuals involved. The authorities call on those involved in the case to come to Lam Dong Provincial Police (No. 4 Tran Binh Trong, Cam Ly Ward, Da Lat City) to make a statement, in order to enjoy leniency.

Lam Dong Provincial Police affirmed that they will closely coordinate with relevant agencies to strictly handle violations, and at the same time call on people to raise awareness of forest protection, contributing to the conservation of valuable local natural resources.