Forestry Agency and North Sumatra Police Seize 22 Kg of Pangolin Scales, Arrest Two Suspects

In a significant bust for wildlife protection, the Forestry Law Enforcement Center for the Sumatra Region, in collaboration with the North Sumatra Regional Police, has successfully confiscated 22 kilograms of protected pangolin scales. The operation, which took place in Medan City, North Sumatra Province on April 2, 2026, also led to the arrest of two individuals identified as DA (35 years old) and WA (18 years old).

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The joint team moved towards the location and saw suspect DA carrying a brown cardboard box containing a white sack filled with pangolin scales.

The successful seizure was initiated following a tip-off from the local community regarding suspected dealings in pangolin scales. Acting on this information, a joint team moved to Jalan Veteran Pasar in Medan Deli District, where they observed suspect DA carrying a brown cardboard box containing a white sack filled with the illicit wildlife products. Another suspect, identified as BS, was seen monitoring the situation on a motorcycle nearby.

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When the arrest was made, another suspect, WA, attempted to resist by trying to escape from the officers at the scene, but WA was eventually apprehended by the team.

During the apprehension, suspect WA attempted to flee but was ultimately captured by the team. DA, WA, and BS were taken to the Medan office of the Forestry Law Enforcement Center for further processing. Following an investigation and a review with the North Sumatra Police, DA and WA were officially designated as suspects, while BS was initially treated as a witness. The Forestry Law Enforcement Center has vowed to continue its investigation to uncover any potential masterminds behind this illegal trade, aiming to sever the supply chain of protected wildlife parts in North Sumatra and deter future offenses.

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The operation to combat the trade of plants and wild animals is a manifestation of Gakkum Kehutanan's commitment to strictly punishing perpetrators of crimes against protected plants and animals in North Sumatra Province, with the hope of creating a deterrent effect on perpetrators.