Egyptian Citizen Arrested at Soetta Airport for Smuggling Lizards and Chameleons

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) together with related agencies has successfully thwarted the smuggling of 32 wild reptiles, some of which are protected, by an Egyptian citizen at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta)

Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Office for Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, Aswin Bangun, explained that the Egyptian citizen with the initials AAEA carried live animals in the luggage he was carrying to Jeddah without valid documents.

"This case is handled jointly with the Jakarta BKSDA, Quarantine, Police, Immigration, and other related parties. International airports are one of the most vulnerable points for the circulation of illegal wildlife across the country. Any attempt to bring protected animals out or into Indonesian territory without valid documents will be processed as a criminal offense, without exception, including against foreign nationals," said Aswin as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, December 13.

After the findings on Monday (8/12), the quarantine officers then coordinated with the National Police, Immigration, and BKSDA Jakarta. Further examination found 32 live reptile animals packed in 10 small bags.

All the animals were then handed over to the Jakarta BKSDA for further handling, while AAEA was secured for questioning.

Based on the identification of the Jakarta BKSDA, the confiscated animals consisted of three Arowana (Varanus beccarii) which had the status of protected wildlife, six albino pythons (Malayopythonreticulatus), 17 Platinum Tiger het morph type pythons, two leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius), and four tegu lizards (Tupinambis teguixin).

All animals were sent to the Tegal Alur Animal Rescue Center (PPS) for observation, health examination, and treatment according to animal welfare standards.

Currently, AAEA has been named a suspect and is being held at the Salemba Detention Center for the purposes of investigation.

The Ministry of Manpower's Gakkum Directorate General itself said it was developing the case to trace the potential for a trade network for animals in its destination country.

Meanwhile, the Head of the DKI Jakarta BKSDA, Didid Sulastiyo, explained that the case not only involved administrative violations, but threatened Indonesia's conservation efforts at the global level.

"The aru monitor is a typical East Indonesian animal and is a protected animal whose population in the wild continues to be suppressed by hunting and trade. Transporting live animals in small bags without ventilation and without documents not only violates the law, but also causes serious suffering and a high risk of death," he said.

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