KLHK Reveals The Illegal Trade Of Hundreds Of Birds In Samarinda, There Are Green Cucak, Starlings To Limp

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

SAMARINDA - Investigators from the Gakkum Center of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) for the Kalimantan Region Section II Samarinda revealed the illegal trade of hundreds of birds in Samarinda and Balikpapan. Hundreds of these birds will be sent to Surabaya and Pare-pare (South Sulawesi).

Head of Balai Gakkum KLHK Kalimantan Region, Subhan, said that during the week-long operation his party had named three suspects, namely S (42), Y (32) and MN (37).

"The total number of birds that we managed to save was 597 birds consisting of 222 green cucak, 5 serindit, 287 buffalo starlings, 13 parrots, 17 cililin, 32 turtle turtles, 20 limping tails and 1 cotton shoot. " said Subhan as quoted by Antara, Friday, July 2.

Subhan said the handling of the case could not be separated from the good cooperation between the KLHK Regional Gakkum Center, Balikpapan Class I Agricultural Quarantine Center, East Kalimantan BKSDA, East Kalimantan Police, Samarinda Police, East Kalimantan High Court and the community.

Subhan explained that investigators had left suspects Y and MN at the Samarinda Police Detention Center, while S was placed in the East Kalimantan Police Detention Center in Balikpapan.

"The evidence in the form of 597 birds of various types is currently being secured at the Balai Gakkum KLHK Kalimantan Region in Samarinda and the BKSDA Kaltim SKW III office in Balikpapan," he explained.

The investigator charged the suspect in violating Article 21 Paragraph 2 Letter a Jo. Article 40 Paragraph 2 of Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems is punishable by a maximum imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

Subhan explained that the disclosure of this case began with the termination of the smuggling of 16 green cucak birds on May 5, 2021 and 359 birds of various species on June 18, 2021, Semayang Balikpapan Police KP3 and Balikpapan Class I Agricultural Quarantine Center at Semayang Port, Balikpapan.

Following up on the case, the Enggang Brigade Rapid Response Forestry Police Unit (SPORC) team collected materials and information, which was then followed up with law enforcement operations with the East Kalimantan Police Criminal Investigation Directorate and Samarinda Criminal Investigation Unit.

The team managed to catch Y at his bird stall on Jalan Tarmidi Samarinda on June 25, 2021. The team caught MN at his bird stall on Jalan Pangeran Untung Suropati Samarinda on June 28, 2021, and S in KM. Mutiara Ferindo 2 while leaning on Balikpapan's Semayang Harbor, on June 29, 2021.

He emphasized that currently the KLHK Balai Gakkum of the Kalimantan Region and the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation of the East Kalimantan Police are still developing a case to uncover the illegal inter-island bird trade network.