Smugglers Of 8 Slow Lorises From Tanah Datar, West Sumatra Arrested In Pekanbaru

PEKANBARU - Police arrested KIS (55) and RAF (30) for smuggling eight protected species of slow loris which were obtained from Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra.

"Both were arrested by police officers when they were trying to trade an animal named Latin 'Nycticebus' in the parking lot of Eka Hospital on July 12, 2021," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Kombes Sunarto, quoted by Antara, Monday, July 19.

He explained that from the arrest of the two perpetrators, the officers managed to confiscate eight slow lorises which were put into two different boxes where each box contained four slow lorises.

Kombes Sunarto said the perpetrators plan to sell the slow lorises for IDR 2.5 million each to interested buyers.

"According to KIS information, the slow lorises were obtained by hunters from the forest in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, and others were purchased from local communities," he said.

"They planned to carry out a sale and purchase transaction for the protected animal in Pekanbaru, but when they were arrested they were waiting for a buyer," continued Sunarto.

Based on the information obtained, the number of rare animals is now starting to be limited so that the price in the market can reach Rp. 4 million-Rp 7 million per head.

"Because these animals are included in the category of protected animals, there are sanctions for those who hunt, maintain, kill and even trade these animals," said Sunarto.

In addition to the perpetrators, the officers confiscated several pieces of evidence, such as two boxes and a Toyota Avanza car that was used to transport the animal.

Both were charged with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a Jo Article 40 paragraph (2) of the Republic of Indonesia Law no. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

"We urge the public to maintain and preserve biodiversity and its ecosystem by protecting protected wildlife from the sale, hunting or killing of protected animals so that we can pass it on to our children and grandchildren," he said.