A pickup truck driver was fined R$19,500 after being caught transporting native timber without documentation in Crateús, Ceará, according to the state’s Environmental Police Battalion (BPMA). The wood was seized during an inspection under Operation Bioma in the rural locality of Ibiapaba.
Police said officers stopped the vehicle after finding it loaded with logs. The timber was preliminarily identified as sabiá, and the person transporting it could not produce a Forest Origin Document, a forest transport guide or other proof of legal origin. The BPMA estimated the load at about 65.4 cubic metres of roundwood.
During the inspection, officers also identified a man alleged to be responsible for extracting the timber. They issued an environmental infraction notice and imposed the administrative fine under provisions concerning forest products acquired, transported or stored without a valid licence.
The timber was seized and placed in custody. Police also recorded a Term of Occurrence, a simplified incident report. No one was arrested.
Sources: G1.