215 Turtles To Be Smuggled Using Expeditionary Services Thwarted By Lampung Quarantine

Lampung Quarantine Center officers showed turtles from wildlife smuggling in Bandarlampung, Sunday (20/4/2025). (ANTARA/HO-Karantina Lampung)

The Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center (Karantina) thwarted the smuggling of wild snakes and turtles carried using expedition services at Bakauheni Port, South Lampung Regency.

"We managed to thwart the delivery of 215 turtles and five snakes in the form of packages," said Head of the Lampung Quarantine Center Donni Muksydayan, in Bandarlampung, Sunday, April 20, as reported by Antara.

He explained that the smuggling of wild snakes and turtles was successfully thwarted when the Quarantine Center Team together with the Bakauheni Port Area Sector Police (KSKP) carried out routine checks.

"During routine checks, our officers suspected that the white basket box packages were often used in the operation of animal smuggling, which then checked the suitability of the contents of the package," he said.

After the package was opened, he continued, officers found six packages containing turtles and 1 package containing snakes of various types.

"From the package label, it is known that the animal came from Jambi and will be taken to Pangandaran and DKI Jakarta. The details of the contents of the package are 213 ambon turtles and 2 sun turtles, then also five snakes with the type of one python, yellow rapper, earth snake, king cobra, and cobra," he said.

Donni said that all turtles and snakes were detained because they were not equipped with a veterinary certificate from the veterinary authority in the original province, a domestic wild plant and animal transport letter (SATSDN) from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) area of origin, and were not reported to quarantine officials.

"It should be noted that the delivery of animals between areas without being equipped with documents required to violate Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine," he said.

He also said that all the animals confiscated had now been handed over to the Bengkulu BKSDA Section III to be secured in temporary shelters for treatment.

"Meanwhile, officers are still conducting further investigations into the sender and recipient of the package, and further information from the expedition," he said.

The head of the Lampung Quarantine also emphasized that he would continue to strengthen supervision and inspection to close the loopholes for smuggling illegal animals.

"We hope that the community and various parties will participate in eradicating smuggling or trafficking of wildlife that can damage our ecosystem," he said.