Suspecting The Unmanaged Xenia Car In Sukarame Palembang, Police Find Lobster Seeds Worth Rp11 Billion

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PALEMBANG - Polrestabes Palembang, South Sumatra found 70,407 lobster seeds worth Rp11 billion in an unmanned minibus with the police number BG 2815 YK.

Palembang Police Chief Kombes Irvan Prawira Satyaputra said the incident began when his party received reports from local residents who were suspicious of a silver Daihatsu Xenia car parked on PMD Street, Talang Jambe Village, Sukarame District, Friday, August 19 at around 01.30 WIB.

Based on the report, the Satreskrim team immediately went to the location to inspect the suspect car.

"Before checking the car, it is monitored first, with the hope that the owner will come (to take the car)," he said.

After almost a night the officers watched the car but the owner did not come until finally the officers searched the car.

Officers found that in the car contained 13 boxes containing 70,407 lobster seeds whose use was regulated by law.

"Then the car and thousands of lobsters were secured as evidence to the Police Headquarters for further inspection, it is suspected that these seeds were traded," he said.

According to him, after further inspection, the thousands of lobster seeds consisted of 7,623 pearl lobsters and 62,784 sand lobsters, all packed in plastic bags and neatly stored in 13 large boxes.

Each pearl lobster seed is worth selling for around Rp. 200 thousand per head, a total of more than Rp. 1.5 billion, while for sand type lobster seeds as many as 62,784 tails, ranging in price from Rp. 150 thousand per head with a total value of more than Rp. 9.4 billion.

"The total loss to the state reached Rp11 billion," he said.

Referring to the regulation of the Minister of Forestry Regulation No. 17 of 2021 Article 7, it contains regulations for captive breeding for BBL production that must be above 8 cm in size or weigh above 200 grams.

The owner of this lobster seed violated Law No. 45 of 2009 as amended by Law No. 31 of 2004 concerning fisheries, Article 92 Jo Article 26 paragraph (1) with a maximum penalty of 8 years and a maximum fine of Rp. 1.5 billion.

"Now we are still chasing the perpetrators," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Data and Information Supervisory of the Fish Quarantine Agency for Quality and Safety Control of Fishery Products Palembang, Erik Ariyanto, said the lobster seeds were believed to have come from Lampung Province.

Then later all the lobster seeds will be returned to their natural habitat. Given that lobster seeds are vulnerable to death.

"Soon we will release them into their habitat," he said.