Lampung Quarantine foils illegal bird smuggling attempt

Officials in Lampung, Indonesia, have successfully intercepted a shipment of 172 illegal birds being transported across the island. The birds, discovered hidden in crates within a truck at Bakauheni Port, were en route from Palembang, South Sumatra, to Tangerang, Banten. The interception occurred during a routine inspection early Saturday morning when quarantine officers became suspicious of the vehicle's cargo, noting discrepancies between its manifest and actual contents.

Donni Muksydayan, head of the Lampung Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency, reported that the birds were found concealed in six plastic crates on the truck's cabin and five cardboard boxes inside the driver's cabin. The confiscated species included 16 kepodang, three poksay mandarin, three gray drongos, 100 common mynas, and 50 ciblek.

Crucially, none of the animals possessed the required quarantine documents, nor had they been declared to officials prior to inter-provincial transit, as mandated by quarantine regulations. Muksydayan explained that such illicit wildlife trafficking often involves third-party couriers hired by the main perpetrators to minimize their own risk of detection. "The main perpetrators are usually not directly involved. They use drivers or couriers who are looking for additional income. This is a modus operandi we frequently encounter," he stated.

The quarantine agency stressed that controlling animal movement is vital not only for legal compliance but also for safeguarding national biosecurity. Transporting animals without proper inspection and documentation poses a significant risk of spreading pests and diseases between regions. Muksydayan reminded the public that failing to secure quarantine documents for animals is a violation of Law Number 21 of 2019 on Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine. The driver, the vehicle, and all the birds have been taken for further examination, while authorities work to identify the individuals behind this smuggling operation.