Lam Dong: Large-scale illegal pine logging busted

On August 3, 2025, Lam Dong Provincial Police announced that they had just busted a serious case of illegal pine logging in sub-area 224, a forest area managed by the Lam Ha Forest Protection Management Board (QLRPH). Four related subjects were prosecuted and temporarily detained for violating regulations on forest exploitation and protection, causing damage to more than 150 m³ of pine wood, including many valuable ancient trees.

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).

Lam Dong Provincial Police officers read the arrest warrant for 4 suspects.

The subjects were prosecuted for the crime of "Violating regulations on forest exploitation and protection 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.

Pine tree stump at kilometer 08, section 5, sub-region 224, was illegally cut down in the pine logging case.

Forest rangers and police patrol discovered an illegal logging case in sub-region 224.
Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district.

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. Assessing 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.

Authorities inspect the scene at sub-region 224, Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district.

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, cut them into 25-30 cm long pieces, used axes and sap-splitting knives, and each time exploited 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 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 ster.

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 Management Board for management.

Pine tree number 39 was cut down in sub-zone 224, Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district, in an illegal logging case that caused damage to more than 150 m³ of wood.

Scene of illegal pine logging in sub-zone 224, Phu Son commune, Lam Ha district,
with more than 150 m³ of wood damaged.

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 forward 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.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/lam-dong-triet-pha-vu-khai-thac-go-thong-trai-phep-quy-mo-lon-386236.html