They stopped the vehicle carrying the fruit during a patrol last Thursday and seized the durians, which were estimated to be worth around RM5,000 (US$1,180), the New Straits Times reported.
Zainuddin Jamaluddin, director of the Pahang State Forestry Department, said preliminary investigations indicated the durians were harvested from trees illegally planted in Compartment 91 of the Gunung Benum Forest Reserve in Raub district.
“The seized durians are grade C and D, and are believed to be for the local market,” he noted in a statement.
He explained that both the vehicle and the durians were seized under the National Forestry Act 1984 for encroachment and unlawful extraction of forest produce.
The farmer, who was believed to be on the way to sell the fruits, was released on bail after giving a statement.
Zainuddin said the Gunung Benum Forest Reserve has become known for the unlawful planting of fruit trees such as durians, mangosteen, rambutan, petai, and kantan, with local residents believed to be behind the activity.
Since July 21, daily patrols have been carried out as part of a joint operation involving the Royal Malaysia Police and other agencies.
Zainuddin urged nearby communities to refrain from entering the reserve to harvest or carry out any unauthorized activities in the area.
Farming on illegally occupied land has recently garnered much public attention in Pahang, particularly after authorities cut down more than 1,000 durian trees in Raub during an operation between April and May, many of them reportedly the prized Musang King variety.
The state’s Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah revealed in April that nearly 14,500 hectares of government land had been unlawfully occupied and used to grow crops such as oil palm, rubber, and durian, according to the Malay Mail.
He also said more than 5,900 hectares of permanent forest reserves had been encroached upon, describing the situation as a blatant theft of public resources.
The Sultan has urged consistent and decisive enforcement to curb land encroachment and pledged to continue voicing concern over the issue.
Raub, often referred to as Malaysia’s durian capital and nicknamed “Musang King Durian Town,” is home to some 150,000 durian trees spread across 2,000 hectares of state land.
