Police Name 4 Suspects Of Komodo Children Smuggling In Labuan Bajo NTT

The West Manggarai Police showed the wood used by the suspect to catch the Komodo dragon boy on Rinca Island, Labuan Bajo, NTT, Wednesday (1/11/2023). (ANTARA/Fransiska Mariana Nuka)

NTT - West Manggarai Resort Police (Polres) has named four suspects in the case of smuggling protected animals. The main perpetrator is the initials H, a Balinese resident.

"Then, I communicated to the main actors, as well as M and A who are Western Manggarai people to arrest and ensnare Komodo," said West Manggarai Deputy Chief of Police Kompol Budi Guna Putra in a statement at the West Manggarai Police Headquarters, Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Wednesday 1 November.

Budi added that the perpetrators were trying to smuggle a Komodo dragon cub from Kerora Village, Rinca Island, Komodo National Park, Labuan Bajo.

Information on the smuggling of Komodo children was obtained from an Agricultural Quarantine officer who found a Komodo cub with a mouth tied with duct tape and tied legs in a black bag deposited by the main perpetrator H, in a banana truck at the Port of ASDP Labuan Bajo, Monday, October 30 morning.

The police immediately pursued H who wanted to fly that day.

Based on the information obtained, the Komodo child has been arrested by M and A who are natives of the village on October 16, 2023.

The Komodo dragon was then taken to Labuan Bajo using a ketinting wooden boat. The Komodo dragon cub was about to be brought to Bali by sea.

H himself has done the same thing five times, namely twice in June 2023, twice in September 2023, and once on October 16, 2023.

"Arrested five, then three were successfully sold to Bali and Java, both dead. Three were sold," he said.

He explained that Komodo's son was arrested using snares from nylon ropes and wood.

Suspects M and A who arrested Komodo children on Rinca Island were lured with a salary of Rp. 2 million per head.

Furthermore, I as an intermediary or who communicated information on the arrest of Komodo's son to H was lured with Rp500 thousand in cash.

"From the results of the smuggling in June 2023, the perpetrator sold Komodo dragons with a price range of Rp. 20 million to Rp. 28 million," said Budi.

Now the police are investigating the case.

Budi emphasized that there were legal actions given to all parties involved in this protected animal smuggling network.

Furthermore, the articles suspected are Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems Article 21 paragraph 2 letter A with a penalty of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

"For custodians, we will continue to investigate and investigate. If it is proven, we will take firm action," he said firmly.

The Resort Coordinator of the NTT Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) in Labuan Bajo, Udin, added that the animal found was a male Komodo cub aged approximately one year.

Based on an examination from the medical authority of the West Manggarai Regency Animal Husbandry and Health Service, the Komodo child was diagnosed with hypoxia or a condition of lack of oxygen, causing death.

"The NTT BBKSDA will continue to monitor the circulation of wild animal plants (TSL) in the TSL entrance and exit," said Udin.