Once A Cute Animal Transaction Via WhatsApp, The Perpetrator Makes A Profit Of Millions Of Rupiah

Ilustrasi (Photo: Camila Cordeiro / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The police said that the man with the initials YI, who was arrested in connection with the protected animal trade case, had been in action for the last few months. Profits in a single sale are estimated at tens of millions of rupiah.

Not a few rare and cute animals are sold by the perpetrators. Some of the officers found at the suspect's place were an orang-utan with the Latin name Pongo abelii, three Nias parrots with the Latin name Gracula robusta and three Javan langurs with the Latin name Trachypithecus auratus.

"Each animal can benefit from one to 10 million," Kombes Yusri Yunus, Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya, told reporters, Thursday, January 28.

In addition, based on the investigation, the suspect has been running this illegal business since August 2020. But the police are still investigating the matter.

To disguise his action, the suspect used online sales mode. So, the action of this endangered animal trade is not easy for officers to smell.

"(The perpetrator) disguised these activities as if the suspect was selling unprotected animals," he said.

Previously it was reported, Polda Metro Jaya dismantled and arrested the perpetrators of buying and selling protected animals. The perpetrator sells protected animals through social media, namely through Facebook and WhatsApp.

The perpetrator is YI. He was arrested on Tuesday, January 19, at the Sukatani market bird stall, Jalan Raya Sukatani, Sukadarma Village, Kec. Sukatani, Bekasi.

"We secure one person, how do they smuggle and sell rare animals that are protected by the government and are now becoming increasingly rare," said Yusri.

For his actions, the suspect was subjected to Article 40 paragraph 2 Jo Article 21 paragraph 2 letter a of the Republic of Indonesia Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.