On the afternoon of February 5, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Head of Dak Lak Forest Protection Department, said that the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development had just issued a decision to discipline 3 leaders and officers of the Ea Sup District Forest Protection Department for not following the correct procedures when performing official duties.

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The vehicle was transporting 34 rosewood trees of unknown origin. Photo: HH

Specifically, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hoang (Head of Ea Sup District Forest Protection Department) and Mr. Nguyen Cao The (forest ranger) were disciplined with a warning. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tuan (Deputy Head of Ea Sup District Forest Protection Department) was disciplined with a reprimand.

Previously, on the morning of October 3, 2024, a leader of Dak Lak Forestry and Food Processing Company Limited discovered a car with license plate number 24C-059.10 carrying 34 rosewood trees with intact roots and abnormal signs, so he had them inspected.

At the time of inspection, driver Phung Van Truc (residing in Phu Tho province) could not present documents proving the origin of the above wood.

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34 rosewood trees of illegal origin. Photo: AX

At this time, the leader of Dak Lak Food Processing and Forestry Company Limited called to ask Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hoang to coordinate in inspecting the above car.

Then the parties agreed to make the initial working minutes of Dak Lak Forestry and Food Processing Company Limited and Mr. Nguyen Cao The also signed this minute.

However, when bringing the evidence and vehicles to the headquarters of the Ea Sup District Forest Protection Department, Mr. Nguyen Cao The made a record of other work.

This re-issued record is not based on the original record, does not measure or list the forest products of 34 rosewood trees, but only shows the transportation of 8 rosewood trees of unknown origin.

Regarding the remaining 26 rosewood trees, Ea Sup Forest Protection Department did not direct specialized departments to inspect and verify the legality for handling, leading to the preparation of case files that did not comply with regulations.

Dak Lak Provincial Forest Protection Department determined that Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hoang and Nguyen Thanh Tuan did not inspect, urge, supervise, and direct the implementation of tasks, resulting in the failure to establish a record to handle violations.

In addition, during the process of making the record, regulations were not followed properly, allowing the subjects to declare falsely and supplement the legalization of the forest product origin documents, leading to violations not being handled and not being handled properly for the nature of the case.