Dak Lak authorities crack down on illegal timber bribery ring

Authorities in Dak Lak province have launched a criminal investigation into a bribery and illegal logging ring involving forest protection officers and a local business owner. The Economic Police Department of the Dak Lak Provincial Police has indicted nine forest management and protection officers for “receiving bribes.”

Additionally, Nguyen Thi Nga Huyen, the director of Nong Huyen One Member Limited Liability Company, has been charged with “giving bribes” and “violating regulations on the exploitation, protection of forests and forest products.”

A recent inspection of the Nong Huyen company premises led to the seizure of over 195 cubic meters of various timber—including more than 19 cubic meters of rare and endangered Group IIA forest plants—and over 3,500 ster of firewood lacking legal documentation. Investigations revealed that Huyen paid a monthly bribe of 10 million VND to officials at Sub-branch 1 of the Chu Pha Forestry Company to facilitate the transport of these illegal goods through checkpoints. The payments were reportedly funneled through various intermediary bank accounts to evade detection.