Cairo: Saudi Special Forces for Environmental Security (SFES) seized 30 tonnes of local firewood put up for sale in violation of the kingdom’s forestry system, the Saudi news agency SPA reported Friday.
The illegally cut lumber was seized inside a warehouse run by three Sudanese residents and two Pakistanis east of Riyadh, it added.
The raid was part of a clampdown on illegal logging mounted by the Interior Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
The SFES has called on Saudi citizens and expatriates to abide by environment-protection rules that ban tree cutting and to report to authorities illegal logging and trade in local firewood.
Earlier this month, Saudi prosecutors warned against harming vegetation and unlawful tree cutting, pointing out that related violations are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of SR30 million.
