Customs And Excise Thwarts Smuggling Of 175 Thousand Lobster Seeds Worth IDR 26.6 Billion

The Joint Customs And Excise TEAM Soekarno Hatta thwarted the smuggling of 109 suitcases containing 175 thousand lobster seeds worth Rp26.5 billion/ Photo: Jehan/VOI

TANGERANG - Soekarno Hatta's Joint Customs and Excise Team thwarted the smuggling of 109 suitcases containing 175 thousand lobster seeds worth IDR 26.5 billion. Head of the Soekarno Hatta Airport Customs Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, said the arrests were made on Wednesday, September 6.

It was explained that Customs and Excise were suspicious of passengers with the initials PA and ZI from Jakarta who were suspected of carrying illegal exports of clear lobster seeds destined for Singapore.

"PA and ZI checked in at Terminal 2F at Soetta Airport, then carried out supervision of baggage and observation in the departure area," said Gatot to journalists at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Thursday, September 7.

"Until the boarding process was completed at 12.20 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB), passengers ZI and PA were known to have refused to board the TR 277 aircraft and did not cancel the flight," he continued.

On that basis, his party again found two suitcases in the trunk identical to those of Zi and PA which were known to belong to YF. The team then carried out security and X-ray transfers as well as inspection of the identical baggage.

"From the results of the inspection, 4 suitcases were found containing 109 packages with a total of 175 thousand clear lobster seeds, with details of 100 packages containing 165 sand lobster seeds and 9 packages containing 9 thousand pearl lobster seeds," he said.

Based on the evidence, an enumeration was carried out and it was planned to conduct a release with Quality Control Fish Quarantine Center (BKIPM) at Carita Beach, Pandegelang.

“Lobster seeds are a prohibited export commodity. The export ban on lobster seeds was carried out to encourage domestic lobster cultivation and increase lobster exports for consumption. Also to prevent and maintain the preservation of their habitat for lobsters," he concluded.