FOREIGN speculators are using desperately poor villagers to plunder Mozambique’s national forests of rare hardwoods and other valuable resources, a government spokesman said on Monday. The hardwoods, rare animal species and minerals such as gold are trucked out of the country to Malawi through under-equipped border posts at Milange and Morrumbala. Gabriel Papusseco said that rampant exploitation of indigenous state forests and game reserves by illegal operators is threatening planned eco-tourism projects. Papusseco said staffing capacity problems and a lack of proper inspection facilities on the borders enables looters to smuggle hardwood and other items out of the country without risk of apprehension. “We’re simply incapable of stopping the illegal logging or timber sales,” he said.