Kakatua to Crocodile Skull Seized, Wildlife Trader Arrested

AIMAS - West Papua Police through the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimsus) arrested a perpetrator of the trade in protected animals in the disclosure of a case of alleged criminal acts of conservation of biological resources and ecosystems in Sorong City.

Acting Head of Public Relations of the West Papua Barat Police, Kompol Jenny Hengkelare said the disclosure of the case began with a report from the community regarding illegal activities against protected animals in the local jurisdiction.

He said, following up on the report, the team of Subdit 4 Ditreskrimsus conducted an investigation and on Thursday (16/4) at around 23.05 WIT found activities of storing and trading protected animals on Jalan Danau Sentani, Klawasi Village, West Sorong District.

"At the location, officers found the perpetrator storing various types of protected animals, both alive and dead," Jenny was quoted as saying by Antara, Thursday, April 23.

The Director of Special Criminal Investigation of the West Papua Barat Daya Police, Kombes Pol Iwan P. Manurung, added that from the results of the development, the team also found another location used as a place to store animals on Kasuari Street, Klawasi Village, West Sorong District.

In this operation, he said, the police arrested one suspect with the initials MN alias N who is currently being held at the Sorong Police Detention House since April 17, 2026.

"Meanwhile, the other two people with the initials AK and HH are still witnesses," he said.

From the suspect's hands, the police secured a number of evidence in the form of protected animals such as koki parrots, black parrots, cassowaries, green reticulated pythons, lizards, and ground kangaroos or wallabies.

In addition to wildlife, the police also found parts of the animal's body in the form of 13 crocodile skulls and 91 whale bones of the balaenoptera edeni type.

"Officers also seized various storage containers such as plastic containers, buckets, and other equipment used to store animals," he explained.

Iwan emphasized that the suspect's actions violated Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Living Resources and their Ecosystems.

"The perpetrators are threatened with imprisonment for a minimum of three years and a maximum of 15 years and a fine of at least Rp. 200 million and a maximum of Rp. 5 billion," he said.

He explained that the disclosure of this case was a follow-up to the direction of the National Police Chief through Telegram Letter Number ST/727/IV/OTL.1.1./2026 regarding the formation of a task force for law enforcement smuggling in the Polda region.

According to him, the practice of smuggling wildlife has a major impact, ranging from damage to ecosystems, state losses, to the potential spread of zoonosis diseases.

Head of the West Papua BKSDA Technical Section, Yohanes Wiharisno, emphasized that crimes against protected animals are a serious threat to Indonesia's biodiversity, especially in South West Papua which is known as one of the regions with the largest biodiversity in the world.

"Efforts to overcome this are carried out through cross-agency integrated operations and increasing public awareness of the importance of maintaining environmental sustainability," he said.

He invited the public to play an active role in maintaining the sustainability of nature and supporting law enforcement against illegal wildlife traders.