Khao Yai National Park is to seek help from the military in their crackdown on poachers of the highly-prized agarwood in and around the park area.
The park chief, Chaiya Huayhongtong, said today that poaching of the wood has increased and those responsible tend to approach the area from the Pak Chong district of Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri and Nakhon Nayok.
Due to the park’s large expanse and limited manpower, he said he will seek help from the First Army Region commander by sending troops from an army barracks in Prachin Buri to join park rangers on foot patrols of the park’s borders, to look out for agarwood poachers.
According to the park’s statistics, there were eight cases of agarwood poaching in which 13 suspects were arrested and 73.6kg of agarwood chips were seized. Also, eight suspects were arrested with 15 Payoong or Siamese rosewood logs, which were seized.
This year, three cases of agarwood poaching have been reported and three suspects, including one Cambodian, arrested, with 23kg of agarwood chips seized. 23 other suspects were also arrested for illegal logging and 36 Payoong logs seized.
