Police arrest suspect in Sidakan illegal tree felling case

SIDAKAN – Police from the Forest and Environment Directorate in Sidakan district, Soran Administration, arrested a suspect for cutting down trees in the Kezhek village area. Officials stated that the suspect was not acting alone, and two other individuals were involved, though they remain at large. Authorities are searching for them.

Adnan Ahmed, head of the Forest and Environment Directorate in Sidakan told 964media that the group, consisting of three individuals, were trying to use pickup trucks to transport the cut wood, which was cut down around 15 days prior to the arrest. One suspect has been apprehended so far.

Ahmed said, “Because there is no court in Sidakan, violators of environmental laws are fined and then released.”

Regarding the other suspects, Ahmed noted that one has been identified by environmental police and remains under pursuit. The third individual is currently unknown and has not been identified.

The directorate official added that the confiscated wood is typically collected, and then it is publicly auctioned.

Soran, with its mountainous landscape and severe winters, frequently faces high oil prices and recurring power shortages. As a result, many residents, especially in remote areas, depend on wood stoves for heating, contributing to increased tree cutting and environmental damage. Last year, the price of a barrel of oil in Soran peaked at 195,000 dinars ($130) during the winter months.

Last year, authorities in Soran reported that 30 people have been arrested from the beginning of the year until late November for illegally cutting down trees. In 2022, 95 individuals were detained.

The Soran Administration oversees six districts, 14 sub-districts, and nearly 800 villages, with a population of approximately 380,000 people.