Turkey, India caught in global crackdown on illegal timber

Latvia’s National Forest Service has fined a company €10,000 for planning to import birch plywood from Turkey, claiming the wood originated in Russia.

According to a report by Latvian Public Broadcasting, the fine was imposed for failure to comply with due diligence requirements of the European Union (EU) Timber Regulation, which allowed the risk of timber from Russia being placed on the market..

The import of timber or timber products made from raw materials originating from Russia or Belarus is still prohibited. Such products would contravene the EU Timber Regulation, as the raw materials cannot be reduced to a “negligible risk” to be allowed on the EU market. Timber and timber products produced in Russia or Belarus, subject to EU sanctions, are considered to be from an illegal source.

If a company wants to import a high-risk product, such as birch plywood, it must exclude any possibility that the plywood or wood was produced in Russia or Belarus. Similarly, if furniture is imported, for example, from China or any other third country whose manufacturers might use wood from Russia or Belarus, the possibility that it contains raw materials from these countries must be excluded.

Burmese teak imports (via India) have now increased 15-fold

Meanwhile, the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reported last week that teak imports from India by the EU and US have increased 15-fold, despite sanctions imposed on major players based in Myanmar. The report, published by Wood Central last week, also highlights concerns about the true origin of teak exports from the world’s most populous country.

Smuggling of teak, or more precisely Burmese teak (Tectona grandis) wood from Myanmar, has become a major problem, with high-profile seizures and arrests across India. This has highlighted the scale and complexity of the problem in eastern and northeastern India.

Despite severe sanctions imposed on Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE) by the European Union and the United States, the illicit trade in Burmese teak continues to thrive, facilitated by a network of corrupt smugglers and traders.

According to reports from the border province of Manipur in northeastern India, several recent incidents underline the gravity of the situation. In a major operation, foresters from the Belakoba range under the Baikunthapur forest division seized a consignment of Burmese teak concealed under sacks of charcoal. The truck driver and his assistant, both from Haryana, were arrested.

Similarly, the state’s Goods and Services Tax department busted a smuggling ring by arresting Rahul Khan from Rajasthan in March. A container believed to be containing tea leaves contained around 18,000 cubic metres of Burmese teak worth around US$1,012,350.

In another major operation in February, Bagdogra forest department officials intercepted a container loaded with Burmese teak hidden among bamboo, worth US$2.5 million.

These incidents reveal the extent of the smuggling network and the lengths traffickers go to conceal their illegal activities. From hiding wood under bags of charcoal or bamboo to using fake documents, traffickers employ sophisticated methods to evade detection.

The involvement of individuals from various states including Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh highlights the magnitude of this illegal trade. The continued seizures and arrests reflect the continued efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat this menace.

However, the persistence of smuggling activities indicates the need for stronger measures and international cooperation to curb the illegal trade in Burmese teak.