BKSDA Arrests 3 Perpetrators Of Trade 25 Kg Pangolin Scales In Padang

JAKARTA - A joint team from the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) uncovered a trading case of tens of kilograms of pangolin scales (manis javanica) in Padang City.

"In addition to tens of kilograms of pangolin scales, the team also managed to arrest three suspected perpetrators who were suspected of being the protected animal body trading network with the appendix I category," said Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA Hartono in Padang, Wednesday, which was confiscated by Antara.

From the hands of the three perpetrators of the BKSDA team together with the West Sumatra Police confiscated a plastic sack containing an anneal scales weighing more than 25 kilograms, including a four-wheeled vehicle used by the perpetrators in carrying out their actions.

The three perpetrators and evidence have been brought to the West Sumatra Regional Police for further investigation, including digging or finding out more about the crime network against these protected animals.

Hartono said the perpetrators were suspected of storing, possessing, transporting or trading specimens, part of protected animals. This action contradicts Article 40 A Paragraph (1) Letter F Jo Article 21 Paragraph (2) letter C of Law Number 32 of 2024, concerning amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

The perpetrator is also suspected of violating Government Regulation Number 7 of 1999 concerning Misappropriation of Plant and Animal Types, as well as Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK) Number 106 of 2018 concerning the second amendment to the Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number P.20/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/6/2018 concerning Types of Plants and Animals that are protected by criminal threats in the form of imprisonment for a minimum of three years, and a maximum of 15 fifteen years.

In general, pangolins are a type of scaly mammal of a family of manidee with conservation status. Data released by the IUCN Redlist of animals includes critically endangered species at high risk of extinction in the wild.

The head of the West Sumatra BKSDA Hartono said that the joint team is currently still working in the field to trace a number of developing information.

"It is possible that other perpetrators will be arrested," he said.

He said related parties also increased supervision and action against the rampant circulation and trade of wildlife. Moreover, the existence of wildlife in nature, especially for protected species, continues to receive threats, including being the target of hunters and perpetrators of wildlife crimes.

Regarding the 25 kilograms of evidence confiscated by the West Sumatra Police, it is suspected that it came from more than 100 pangolins. Because one kilogram of pangolin scales are usually produced from three to four.

Finally, he appealed to the public to support efforts to preserve protected animals by stopping illegal wildlife trading activities, especially protected species and reporting to officers if they find protected animals.