Egyptian Tourist Smuggling Three Siamang Tails, Threatened With A Fine Of IDR 5 Billion

Owa Siamang smuggled by mesir tourists/ Photo: Jehan/VOI

TANGERANG - Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Quarantine Center for Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle three rare primates, Owa Siamang. In this case, one Egyptian citizen (WN) with the initials GMA (36) was arrested.

3 rare primates through the luggage of passengers bound for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, have been secured, said Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Type C Customs and Excise Main Service Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, at Soekarno Hatta Airport, Friday, August 30.

Security against primates was carried out after the Customs and Excise Office of Soetta Airport received a report from an undisclosed source regarding smuggling attempts.

On that basis, his party monitored and conducted an examination of the perpetrators, along with their luggage. As a result, there were three gibbon gibbons, primates that were to be brought to Egypt.

"We got 1 primate of the type Owa Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus) and 2 Owa Ungko (Hylobates agilis)," he said.

The mode is that the three gibbons are hidden in cardboard boxes and bamboo cages which are then disguised with food and clothes in a suitcase.

"The method is that the gibbon is put into a cardboard, then the two are put in a basket made of bamboo and then put in a bag, mixed with these foods, including some of their clothes," he said.

On the basis of the violation of customs crime, article 102A of Law Number 17 of 2006 concerning Amendments to Law Number 10 of 1995 concerning Customs with a maximum penalty of 10 years and a maximum fine of IDR 5 billion.

"Also violating Article 87 of Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine with a maximum penalty of 3 years and a maximum fine of IDR 3 billion," he explained.