KKP Hunts 16 Thousand Lobster Seeds Smuggling Perpetrators In Cilacap

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has confirmed the investigation of the smuggling of 16 thousand clear lobster seeds (BBL) in Cilacap, Central Java to the mastermind.

"After the decision, the defendant's status is now. But we don't stop here, we are looking for the owner, if necessary, the mastermind. The defendant uses a car to carry BBL, and we have investigated who the owner is. We have pocketed the identity," said the Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSKDP) of the KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono at a press conference in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Thursday, July 18.

In this case, a suspected courier with the initials FAS had fought against the KKP and the Indonesian Navy, through a pretrial mechanism. However, the pretrial lawsuit was dropped by the Cilacap District Court on July 17, 2024.

FAS was arrested by the Indonesian Navy team on suspicion of smuggling 16 thousand BBLs in the Jeruklegi District, Cilacap, Central Java on June 12. He then filed a pretrial on June 21, 2024 at the Cilacap District Court because he felt that his arrest warrant was illegal, but his attempt was rejected by the judge.

FAS is suspected of Article 27 Number 26 jo. Article 26 paragraph (1) of Law Number 6 of 2023 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning Job Creation into Law on Amendments to Article 92 of Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries Jo. Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st of the Criminal Code. The inaugural trial will be held on 23 July.

Pung's nickname explained that so far most of the handling of BBL smuggling cases at the courier level has been due to the lure of welfare from investors so that couriers remain silent. However, his party did not want to remain silent to investigate other perpetrators in various ways.

"So far, we have been hit by couriers, because what we get information about every courier enters, the family is guaranteed by the bosses. Now our couriers make us admit who the boss is, so that the deterrent effect is not only curated, but the investors will also be affected, if necessary, we will publish their names," he explained.

The investigation of cases to the mastermind is part of the KKP's seriousness in implementing Permen KP Number 7 of 2024, one of which regulates the governance of lobsters.

This is also part of the performance of Project Management Officer (PMO) 724 formed by the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono some time ago.

Special Assistant to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries for Media and Public Communication of the KKP, Doni Ismanto, revealed that his party is very transparent in carrying out lobster governance in Indonesia.

In addition to handling legal cases, information on the distribution of BBL potential maps, cultivation activities, and the acquisition of PNBP from sending BBL abroad can now be accessed by the public through the PMO 724 page on the official KKP website.

"So this PMO 724 is to ensure that the fry management policy runs according to its objective, namely to build a domestic lobster cultivation ecosystem and protect the natural resources itself. Let's see it clearly because so far we have not received anything from this BBL SDA, which has continued road smuggling practices," explained Doni.

Doni added that his party would not be afraid to implement the regulation of fry, especially against perpetrators of BBL smuggling crimes. The lobster policy should be used to trade BBL legally, while still prioritizing domestic cultivation activities.

"This regulation regarding fry in its manufacture has received assistance from the Attorney General's Office, so that the state does not lose, and our cultivation can develop to become part of the global supply chain lobster in the future," he concluded.

Meanwhile, Director of PSDKP Violation Handling Teuku Elvitrasyah ensured that his team would work optimally to oversee the FAS legal case at the Cilacap District Court until the verdict. The inaugural trial will be held on July 23.

Apart from Cilacap, his party has also completed an investigation into the smuggling case of 9,244 BBL in Banyuwangi, with the suspect with the initials HS. The case file has been transferred to the prosecutor's office.

"In addition to Cilacap, the investigation in Banyuwangi has also been completed. Currently, the prosecutors are drafting demands for further trial," said Teuku.