Trade 1.38 Kg of Pangolin Scales in West Kalimantan, the Perpetrators from East Java Find Information on Social Media

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Forestry (Gakkum Kemenhut) has succeeded in uncovering the illegal trade of 1.38 kilograms (kg) of protected pangolin scales (Manis javanica) in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan (Kalbar).

Head of the Kalimantan Regional Forestry Gakkum Office, Leonardo Gultom, explained that his team managed to secure the suspect HLY along with evidence in the form of 1.38 kg of pangolin scales along with a mobile phone.

"This firm action is part of the commitment in efforts to protect Indonesia's biodiversity from hunting and trading practices of protected animals, including their body parts. We will not give space for perpetrators of crimes against protected animals," he said in a statement confirmed from Jakarta, Monday, quoted by Antara.

He explained that the action against the suspect HLY was a step to break the chain of illegal hunting and trading of pangolin scales in and outside the territory of West Kalimantan.

He explained that the trade in the endangered animal's scales was revealed starting from public information, which was then checked at one of the inns in Sintang. The team found 1.38 kg of pangolin scales stored in a black plastic bag under the control of the suspect.

Based on the results of the investigation, the suspect HLY from East Java arrived in Pontianak on Thursday, February 19. Then on Monday, February 23, HLY went to Sintang to look for supplies of pangolin scales. HLY admitted that he knew the pangolin scales trading network through social media.

For this act, HLY is suspected of committing the crime of Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems in the form of each person is prohibited from storing, possessing, transporting, and/or trading specimens, parts, or goods made from parts of protected animals with a maximum imprisonment of 15 years and a fine of up to IDR 30 billion.

"Law enforcement will be carried out to the maximum extent in accordance with the latest regulations, crimes against wildlife are serious crimes that damage the balance of the ecosystem. We will trap the suspects with heavier criminal threats in accordance with Law Number 32 of 2024 and criminal adjustments to Law Number 1 of 2026," said Leonardo Gultom.