More than 100 illegally harvested phayung tree logs and planks (Siamese rosewood) worth over one million baht have been seized in raids on two houses in Na Di district of Prachin Buri.
A combined team of soldiers, police and local officials swooped on the two houses at Raborkate village in tambon Na Di late on Monday night following a tip-off.
The security force found more than 100 phayung logs and planks, about 60 cm wide and 1-2 metres long, on the two premises. Two electric saws and two firelock guns were also found hidden near the walls of the two houses. The householder, identified as Thanakit Seelalert, fled ahead of the raids.
The seized logs were worth over one million baht, officials said.
Initial inquiries found the logs had been poached from Thap Lan forest and smuggled into the village at night. The poachers had processed the logs for sale to timber traders in Cambodia.