Hundreds Of Beautiful Birds From Thailand Thwarted From Entering Aceh, 2 Smugglers Arrested

BANDA ACEH - A joint team from Langsa Customs and Excise, Aceh Province, thwarted the smuggling of hundreds of birds of various types from Thailand. In this operation, two perpetrators were also arrested.

Head of Supervision and Customs and Excise Services Type Customs C Langsa Dwi Harmanto said the prosecution was carried out in Aceh Tamiang Regency.

"There are as many as seven koli containing 279 birds from Thailand smuggled through Aceh Tamiang. The smuggling can be thwarted by a joint team," said Dwi Harmanto in Banda Aceh, Antara, Wednesday, August 13.

This case stems from information received on Saturday, August 9, regarding the alleged smuggling of illegal imported birds from Thailand. The joint team of Langsa Customs and Excise with the Aceh DJBC Regional Office Smuggling Task Force, Aceh and North Sumatra Quarantine, as well as Polri and TNI personnel then conducted an investigation.

The search results show that smuggled goods are transported using a minibus to Medan, North Sumatra. Officers then carried out patrols on the route which is expected to be crossed by the vehicle.

"When the team patrolled the Seumadam area, Aceh Tamiang, we saw a suspicious minibus. The team chased and stopped it," said Dwi.

During the examination, officers found seven kolis containing 138 Hong Kong Pokray birds and 141 Golden Leaf Cica birds. Two people with the initials RY (42) and RN (39) were also arrested for further examination.

According to Dwi Harmanto, the value of the smuggled poultry reached Rp. 528.3 million with a potential state loss of around Rp. 134.58 million.

The case was then transferred to the Law Enforcement team of the North Sumatra Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center on Monday, August 11. A day later, August 12, all birds were destroyed in the Kualanamu Service Unit.

"This destruction is in accordance with Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine. We are committed to taking firm action against illegal goods to realize the Astacita of the President of the Republic of Indonesia. We also invite the public not to carry out illegal goods transactions," said Dwi.