Riau Islands Police Thwart The Smuggling Of Dozens Of Muara Crocodile Babies To Thailand

Illustration of the captivity of estuarines in Marine Village, Sirah Pulau Padang District, Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, South Sumatra (ANTARA)

The Riau Islands Police (Kepri) thwarted the smuggling of dozens of baby estuarine crocodiles to Thailand at Tanjung Riau Port, Batam City, Riau Islands. Officers also arrested two smugglers.

Two perpetrators of smuggling dozens of baby crocodiles were ambushed by officers from the Special Criminal Directorate of the Riau Islands Police at Tanjung Riau Port shortly after arriving from Tembilahan, Riau Province.

Direskrimsus Polda Kepri Kombes Putu Yudha Prawira said the perpetrators plan to cross the baby crocodile estuarine to Malaysia and from Malaysia will be brought back to the Thai region.

From the officer's information, the price of baby crocodiles in Thailand can increase four times compared to Indonesia. From the officer's estimate, the price of 52 baby crocodiles reached IDR 40 million to IDR 50 million.

"We managed to thwart the crocodile smuggling attempt, in this incident we arrested two suspects. From the examination of the suspect, the estuarine crocodile will be smuggled into Thailand. The number of crocodiles is 52 estuarine crocodiles," said Putu Yudha.

In addition to catching dozens of baby crocodiles, officers also confiscated protected rare animals, namely two binturung from Batam residents. Binturung is a rare animal that cannot be kept by residents.

For further handling, dozens of baby crocodiles and two binturung will be handed over to the Natural Resources Conservation Center or the Riau BKSDA.