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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ Indonesia /Energy & Infrastructure

Indonesian Man Caught Smuggling Exotic Animals at Airport

From Tempo · (49m ago) Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • An Indonesian man was apprehended at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport for attempting to smuggle live exotic animals from Thailand.
  • The man concealed a monkey and several lizards in socks and leggings to evade detection, but was caught by quarantine officers.
  • The seized animals, including Marmoset monkeys and various lizards, have a significant economic value, and the perpetrator faces legal charges for violating quarantine laws.

At Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, our vigilant quarantine officers have once again demonstrated their unwavering commitment to safeguarding Indonesia's biosecurity. The recent foiled attempt to smuggle exotic wildlife from Thailand underscores the persistent threats posed by illegal wildlife trade.

The animals were intentionally concealed to avoid inspection by officers.

โ€” Duma SariHead of the Banten Quarantine explaining the smuggler's actions.

The apprehension of an individual attempting to bring in a monkey and several lizards, concealed within personal garments, highlights the lengths to which smugglers will go. This brazen act not only risks introducing dangerous diseases and pests into our pristine ecosystem but also threatens the conservation of our nation's unique biodiversity.

Surveillance of animal traffic and carrier media at the country's entry points will be continuously tightened to prevent the entry of animal diseases and illegal wildlife trade.

โ€” Duma SariHead of the Banten Quarantine on ongoing efforts to prevent illegal wildlife trade.

Our officers acted swiftly and decisively, intercepting the illicit cargo and securing the animals for immediate quarantine and health assessments. This operation is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of the Banten Quarantine team and other relevant agencies. We will continue to strengthen surveillance at all entry points to combat such illegal activities and protect Indonesia's natural heritage.

The economic value of these exotic animals was quite substantial.

โ€” Hudiansyah Is NursalHead of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of Barantin commenting on the value of the seized animals.

Such incidents serve as a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to quarantine regulations. Importing animals without proper documentation and health certificates is a serious offense, carrying severe penalties under Indonesian law. We urge all travelers to comply with these regulations to ensure the safety and health of our animals and environment.

It can also damage the ecosystem and threaten the conservation of Indonesia's living resources.

โ€” Hudiansyah Is NursalHead of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of Barantin on the ecological impact of illegal wildlife imports.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.