Pangolin Scale Export Smuggling Thwarted, Customs And Excise: Can Be Processed As Narcotics Raw Material

Disclosure of the export smuggling of pangolin scales/ Photo: IST

TANGERANG - Soekarno Hatta Customs and Excise thwarted the smuggling of 53 kilograms (Kg) of pangolin scales which are planned to be sent to Hong Kong and Denmark.

Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, said the disclosure took place at the Soekarno Hatta Airport Cargo terminal, Tangerang City. It is known that pangolin scales are estimated to be worth IDR 3 billion.

He added that pangolin scales are protected animals and are prohibited in all forms of international trade.

"We found the five packages with notifications as cassava chips which at the time of inspection found cassava chips mixed with dried pangolin scales," Gatot told reporters at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang City, Wednesday, December 20.

Gatot also explained that pangolin scales can be misused for their use as raw material for narcotics. Because the content contains tramadol HCI as the basic material for making methamphetamine and can be used as a drug to increase male vitality.

"Apart from that, pangolin scales are also known to be treated as analgesic and antioxidant medicinal ingredients, so these pangolin scales have a high selling power on the international black market," he explained.

Allegations of violations of attempts to smuggle the export of pangolin scales violate Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and their Ecosystems, with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.