Despite many efforts aimed at preventing illegal loggers from destroying forests, forest guards in Hoa Hai station, Ha Tinh Province were unable to complete their mission.
Dao Huy Phien, Manager cum Head of the Forest Guarding Department of Vu Quang National Park said that on May 4, the Hoa Hai forest guarding station at Hoa Hai Commune, Huong Khe District, Ha Tinh Province, discovered illegal logging activity. The forest guarding force of Vu Quang National Park coordinated with police of Hoa Hai Commune and border defending post 569 to arrest the culprits.
In the evening on the same day, they found the illegal wood then brought it to Hoa Hai forest guarding station according to regulations.
On the way to Hoa Hai station, two people riding motorbikes suddenly stopped a truck carrying the illegal wood and asked for it.
After being denied, they called many other people to go to the Hoa Hai station. They began throwing stones at the station and its guards. They surrounded the station and refused to let anyone leave. Although the duty team tried to explain and persuade them to stop, they still used weapon to control them with an aim of robbing the illegal wood captured by the team.
The next day, they knew that some forest guards at Hoa Hai station would be absent to attend a funeral and they took advantage of the opportunity to steal more wood.
Dinh Huu So, Vice Manager of the Forest Guarding Department of Vu Quang National Park, was also controlled by the illegal loggers that night said that although they tried their best to prevent the illegal loggers from taking the wood, they did not have enough capabilities to stop them in the end.
Immediately following the incident, Vu Quang National Park reported it to Hoa Hai commune’s authorities and police of Huong Khe District in order to pursue the wood smugglers.
On May 7, speaking to DTiNews, Nguyen Hong Phong, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hoa Hai Commune said that they identified the smugglers. They are Vo Quoc Truong, Vo Quoc Thanh, Vo Quoc Vinh, and Vo Quoc Hua, all living in Hamlet 11, Hoa Hai Commune.
