Siamese rosewood seized in Thai Northeast

SI SA KET, THAILAND, February 23 (TNA) - Police have intercepted a pick-up truck and seized nearly 180 logs of Siamese rosewood in Si Sa Ket Province in the Thai Northeast. On February 22, the local police joined forces with a special taskforce of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, border patrol police and soldiers to stop the pick-up truck carrying the 175 lumbers of Siamese rosewood, measured at about 2.6 cubic metres. Wednesday night's joint operation took place on a village road in Si Sa Ket's Khun Han District, following a tip-off provided to the local police. According to the Thai officers, the Siamese rosewood logs, if smuggled out of the country, will fetch a very high price. However, the driver of the pick-up truck, registered in Ubon Ratchathani Province, also in the Thai Northeast, managed to quickly flee from the scene and the authorities are urgently tracking down all those behind the case. (TNA)