Banjarmasin KPL Police Fails To Smuggle 4 Candidates

BANJARMASIN - Polsek Pelabuhan Laut (KPL) Polresta Banjarmasin thwarted the smuggling of four defenders from South Kalimantan (Kalsel) who were planned to be sent to Cikarang, Bekasi Regency, West Java.

"One perpetrator with the initials MPG (25) was arrested while carrying a cage and several other animals when he was not far from the Trisakti Port area," said Banjarmasin Police Chief Kombes Sabana Atmojo as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 13.

Apart from being a defender, the police also found four crossings and one king's kasturi bird.

Sabana explained that the disclosure of the smuggling of protected animals began with patrols carried out by KPL Police personnel on Tuesday (12/9) night.

While on Jalan Governor Soebarjo in front of the THR Market in Telaga Biru Village, Banjarmasin, officers found a car with suspicious behavior.

Until five boxes of used fruit baskets containing protected animals were found and after being asked about the documents, the perpetrators could not show them to the police.

"In the legal process, we are coordinating with the South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) regarding the handling of the animals further so that they will be released back into the wild," explained Sabana accompanied by the Head of the Banjarmasin KPL Police, Kompol Aryansyah.

Sabana appreciates the success of its members in uncovering cases of smuggling protected animals, which according to him are thanks to the alertness of personnel in carrying out patrol duties.

"Efforts to save protected animals are very important for the preservation of animals from extinction and ecosystem balance in nature," he said.

It is known that bekantan is an endemic animal of Kalimantan as the mascot of the province of South Kalimantan that has been designated as a priority monitoringspecies subject to extinction since 2012 which was stipulated by the Decree of the Head of the South Kalimantan BKSDA Number: SK. 1653/IV-K.23/KKH/2012 dated July 31, 2012.

Bekantan juga jadi satwa terlindung dan termasuk salah satu dari 14 spese prioritas yang ditetapkan berdasarkan Peraturan Menteri Kehutanan Nomor P.57 Tahun 2008 tentang Arahan Strategis Konservasi Spepek Nasional 2008-2018.