The **Public Prosecutor’s Office of Lago Puelo** is conducting an investigation into **illegal logging and clandestine wood processing**, a case involving **mobile sawmills in the Cerro Taza de Té area**, near the entrance to the town.
This incident not only implies an [**environmental violation**](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/grave-denuncia-en-el-cerro-chapelco-tala-de-arboles-posible-contaminacion-y-dano-ambiental/), but also represents a **high-impact economic crime**.
## Report and Initial Measures
On April 8, the **Director General of Forest Policies of the Secretary of Forests, Dell Aquila Mariano Rodríguez**, filed a report at the **Lago Puelo Police Station**, alerting about **illegal settlements and indiscriminate logging** on provincial land.
His testimony was forwarded to the Prosecutor’s Office, led by **Chief Prosecutor Carlos Díaz Mayer** and **Prosecutor Débora Barrionuevo**, who ordered an **immediate raid**.
During the operation, a **large quantity of logs and processed wood** was found, confirming the illegal exploitation of the forest.
## Mobile Sawmills and Suspicions of Prior Warnings
Rodríguez explained that during a tour in the area, he identified **six mobile sawmills** operating without authorization on **Cerro Taza de Té** and **Callejón La Yoica, in the Cerro Radal area**. However, at the time of the raid, **the sawmills had disappeared**, raising suspicions of a possible **prior warning**.
A neighbor stated that an **official vehicle** from the Secretary’s office may have tipped off about the operation, allowing the responsible parties to escape and hide part of the material.
## Findings in the Raid and Possible Wood Smuggling
Authorities verified that in the area, in addition to the **portable sawmills**, there were **numerous freshly cut logs**.
Near the **police station**, there was a **large accumulation of wood**, but at the time of the operation, less than half remained. Additionally, a **cart that was to be seized disappeared before the operation**.
## Economic Impact of Illegal Logging
According to data from the **Secretary of Forests**, over **1,000 logs of Oregon pine and Murray pine** ready for processing were detected, along with **50,000 feet of clandestinely processed wood**.
The estimated value of the **first-grade sawn timber** (50-year-old Oregon pine) amounts to **350 million pesos**, while the total of the logs could raise the sum to **one billion pesos**.
## Follow-up and Progress of the Investigation
Since the discovery of the offense, over **40 employees of the Secretary of Forests** have been in the area, securing the seized material and gathering evidence. Authorities continue the investigation to identify **the responsible parties** and clarify **irregularities in the operation**.
This case highlights the need for **greater control and surveillance** in forested areas to prevent the advancement of [**illegal exploitation of natural resources**](https://noticiasambientales.com/medio-ambiente/depredacion-en-el-rio-parana-dorados-en-peligro-imagenes-evidencian-la-pesca-ilegal-masiva/).
