Several top Gabonese officials have been suspended over suspected involvement in smuggling precious timber six weeks after a huge consignment was discovered at Chinese warehouses, justice officials said Thursday.

Government spokeswoman Nanette Longa-Makinda said several top administration officials had been suspended.

Nearly 5,000 cubic metres (177,000 cubic feet) of kevazingo worth some 7 million euros ($7.8 million) was found in two depots belonging to Chinese companies in the Libreville port of Owendo in late March.

Several suspects were arrested, but 353 of the containers -- which had been confiscated -- mysteriously disappeared.

Gabonese prosecutors accused an influential Chinese entrepreneur of being the ringleader in the affair and collaborating with Gabonese officials.

Two hundred containers later turned up at the warehouses of two other companies.

Kevazingo is a rare central African wood that is prized in Asia, notably for sculpting into temple doorways, tea tables and meeting tables.

Gabon's forest sector accounts for 60 percent of the West African country's gross domestic product.

Related Links
Forestry News - Global and Local News, Science and Application

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Brazilian giant's comeback shows preservation and development of Amazon is possible
Tefe, Brazil (AFP) May 14, 2019
Several meters long and weighing hundreds of kilograms, the Amazon's pirarucu was almost fished to extinction. But the creation of sustainable development reserves in Brazil has ensured the giant fish - and its indigenous hunters - are flourishing again. The resurgence of one of the world's largest freshwater fish is the result of Brazil's yearslong efforts to combine scientific and traditional know-how to preserve the country's rich biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods for indigenous c ... read more