Four persons nabbed for cutting Siamese Rosewood trees

BANGKOK, May 29 (TNA) - Forestry officials and border policemen have arrested four persons and charged them for illegally cutting down the endangered Siamese Rosewood or Payung trees in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. The suspects were apprehended while they were cutting down Payung trees on a mountain near Ubon Ratchathani’s Buntharik district. Officials said they also seized nine planks of precious timber valued more than 600,000 baht, five motorcycles and three methamphetamine pills allegedly in their possession. The four men confessed they were hired by an investor to cut down Siamese rosewood trees and smuggle them to a third country via Laos. They are charged for illegally logging in a national wildlife conservation forest and possessing the illegal drug. (TNA)