South Sumatra Police Unload Illegal Fry Shelters Worth Rp24 Billion

The personnel of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the South Sumatra Regional Police uncovered the illegal lobster fry breeding mode which is estimated to have a selling price of Rp. 24,420 billion, Thursday (2/12/2021). ANTARA/M Riezko Bima Elko P/21

PALEMBANG - Personnel from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the South Sumatra Regional Police (Ditreskrimsus Polda Sumsel) uncovered the illegal lobster fry shelter mode which is estimated to have a selling price of Rp. 24,420 billion.

The fry shelter is run in two rented brick houses located in Mulia Sari Village, Tanjung Lago District, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra.

The modus operandi was revealed after being ambushed by joint personnel of Sub-Directorate IV of the Ditreskrimsus Polda Sumsel and local police officers on Tuesday, November 30.

Director of the Ditreskrimsus Polda Sumsel Kombes Barly Ramadhany, said that during the raid by joint personnel, they found 125,400 Pasir lobster fry and 28,050 Mutiara lobster fry.

Thousands of lobster fry were accommodated in artificial ponds with blue tarpaulins in two houses rented by the alleged perpetrators with the initials F and B from the owners with the initials W and N.

"The house used as a lobster shelter is still relatively new, since the house was rented around the first date until it was finally ambushed on the 30th yesterday," he said in Palembang, Thursday, December 2.

The police suspect that the lobster fry came from outside South Sumatra which was bred before being distributed to potential buyers, which is currently still under development.

"Regarding the origin and destination of the lobster fry, it is still under development," he said as quoted by Antara.

However, he also said, from the raid on the breeding place, joint personnel assisted by local residents managed to catch five perpetrators. Each had the initials IM and MM who were arrested at the captive house, and three others had the initials S, R and R who were hiding in the vicinity of Mulia Sari Village. Then based on the information from the five perpetrators, the police arrested another eight people with the initials Y, B. , N, S, S, MN, I and M who fled to Palembang City.

"So there are a total of 13 perpetrators that we have secured their status as suspects. We will still explore their respective roles to reveal who is the main mastermind behind this captivity," he said again.

The personnel secured the suspects along with other evidence, namely four refrigerators, 6 2,200 liters of Tedmon, 1,200 liters of Tedmon, four cooler units, two large refrigerator units, a generator unit, pool tarpaulin, and 9 oxygen cylinders. Meanwhile, thousands of lobster fry have been released into the waters of Lampung.

Meanwhile, the suspects are suspected of violating Article 92 in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph (1) of Law Number 45 of 2009 concerning Amendments to Law Number 31 of 2004 concerning Fisheries in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.

"If found guilty, they are threatened with a maximum imprisonment of eight years and a maximum fine of Rp. 1.5 billion," he also said.