Police Arrest Hornbill Beak Collectors In Riau, Unit Price Is IDR 2-3 Million

PEKANBARU - The Riau Police's Criminal Investigation Division IV Tipidter Sub-Directorate Team arrested a man from West Sumatra, a collector of hornbill beaks in the case of buying and selling protected animal organs. Police confiscated four hornbill beaks.

"The perpetrator is suspected to be a collector, and the perpetrator plans to sell the beak of the bird protected by the law for Rp. 2 to Rp. 3 million," said Director of Criminal Investigation at the Riau Police, Kombes Ferry Irawan, in Pekanbaru, quoted by Antara, Friday, October 1.

He said the perpetrators were only collectors. He sells hornbill beaks for IDR 2 million to IDR 3 million.

Previously, the Head of Public Relations of the Riau Police, Kombes Sunarto, said that the arrest of the perpetrators began after the Riau Police Sub-Directorate IV Tipidter team received news that there was a transaction of organs from the protected animal. Meanwhile, the transaction will be carried out at the Jalan Jenderal Sudirman Post Office No. 25 Pekanbaru.

"On Thursday (30/9) at 10.00 WIB the team came to the location of the incident, namely the General Sudirman Post Office, where the perpetrator was seen sitting," said Sunarto.

The police then arrested the perpetrator who was carrying a blue sling bag. Then the team conducted an interrogation and requested that the suspect's bag be opened.

"In the bag, 4 hornbill beaks were found and it is strongly suspected that the perpetrators wanted to be traded. The perpetrators and the evidence were immediately brought to the Riau Police Criminal Investigation Directorate for the investigation process," said Sunarto.

For his actions, the perpetrators were charged with Article 40 paragraph (2) of RI Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and their Ecosystems with a penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.