Cross-State Turtle Egg Smuggling Network Revealed, Ecological Losses Reaches IDR 9.6 Billion

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) revealed the practice of smuggling international-scale turtle eggs that threatens the sustainability of one of the most protected marine species in the world. This illegal action not only has an impact on marine ecosystems, but also causes economic and ecological losses which are estimated at Rp9.6 billion.

The disclosure of this network stems from the arrest of two perpetrators in West Kalimantan, and continues with tracing the flow of turtle eggs distribution to illegal markets in Malaysia. This case has opened the veil of cross-border networks that have been secretly trading turtle eggs from Indonesia abroad.

Director General of Marine and Fishery Resources Supervision (PSDKP) KKP Pung Nugroho Saksono said the disclosure was a follow-up to the thwarted smuggling of turtle eggs at Sinte Sambas Port on Saturday, July 6, 2025.

From this case, two suspected perpetrators with the initials SD (male) and MU (female) were arrested. The two suspected perpetrators were successfully secured during the Pontianak PSKDP joint operation with the XII/I-I Singkawang Military Police Sub Detachment (Subdenpom) Tanjungpura Kodam, Saturday, July 12, 2025.

"This is a form of good synergy between law enforcement officers in the field. Supported by intelligence information, the two suspected perpetrators were successfully secured in Singkawang on Saturday afternoon," said Pung Nugroho in a statement in Jakarta.

Based on the confession of the alleged perpetrator of MU, the 96,050 turtle eggs came from Tambelan, Riau Islands. The perpetrator is tasked with accommodating and sending ships since 2024 to Batam City, Riau Islands later this year to Sintete, Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan.

Pung said that if it was calculated based on the price in the Malaysian Serawak market of Rp. 12,000 per item, the economic value that had been generated from the smuggling was Rp. 1,152,600,000.

"However, if it is calculated from the ecological value, ecotourism and artificial conservation substitutes, the economic valuation of this smuggling action is IDR 9.6 billion," he said.

He emphasized that people should no longer take and consume turtle eggs because this action will threaten the sustainability of the turtle species and will be dealt with firmly by the Directorate General of PSDKP.

Pung emphasized that the use of turtle species and turtle eggs violates the fisheries law that has been updated by the Job Creation Act and is threatened with eight years in prison and a maximum fine of IDR 1.5 billion.

"We are serious about this case, so the players will stop, because they will be dealt with firmly as a deterrent effect. For strengthening our personnel, we will also continue to carry out joint operations between the Directorate General of PSDKP and the TNI and Polri," said Ipunk.

Based on the results of the investigation of the case, the alleged perpetrator MU sold turtle eggs in Singkawang to BB and in Pemangkat to IEP.

The day before the two suspected perpetrators were arrested, the PSDKP team received information from the Malaysian authorities that the operation to crack down on the illegal practice of trading eggs on Friday (11/07) managed to secure four Indonesian citizens (WNI) who were caught selling turtle eggs at Serikin Market, Sarawak.

Furthermore, the Pontianak PSDKP Team coordinated with the Malaysian Royal Police to obtain information regarding the case being handled.

"As a result, one of those arrested by the Malaysian Authority was the IEP, the buyer of the MU turtle eggs and selling them in the Malaysian Serawak," explained Pung.

In the future, his party will also continue to cooperate with Malaysian authorities through the Representative of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in Kinabalu to trace the network and prevent the trade in cross-border turtle eggs.

Previously, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, emphasized that he would continue to fight illegal trade practices and smuggling of turtle eggs because they threaten the sustainability of marine biota.