KKP Thwarts Smugglers Who Are Desperate To Send 30,911 Lobster Seeds To Singapore By Plane

Illustration (Photo: Doc. KKP)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Customs and Excise succeeded in thwarting the smuggling of 30,911 clear lobster seeds (BBL) or fry at Juanda International Airport, Surabaya to Singapore.

The head of the Surabaya I Fish Quarantine, Quality Control and Fishery Products Safety Center, Suprayogi, revealed that the disclosure of the case occurred on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at around 10.00 WIB. He said, the fries will be transported using a Scoot Tiger Air plane.

"The plan was to bring it to Singapore, but our synergy with our Customs and Excise friends managed to prevent this crime," he said in an official statement quoted on Sunday, May 15.

According to Suprayogi, the lobster chicks consisted of 26,895 types of sand and 4,016 types of pearls. For the purposes of the trial, the officers set aside as many as 600 fry.

"The perpetrator with the initials S has been detained by Customs and Excise friends and will be investigated," he said.

After the action was taken, BKIPM Surabaya I coordinated with the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL) East Java Regional Office to select the location for the release of fry while maintaining the sustainability of the ecosystem.

Suprayogi added that the perpetrators had violated the rules regarding fisheries and smuggling of fishery resources and could be sentenced to eight years in prison.

"We remind you, do not try to carry out smuggling or other illegal activities because the strengthening of cooperation between government agencies continues to be improved so that there is no room for illegal reasons," he stressed.

Previously, the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, said that he would continue to maintain his commitment to domestic lobster cultivation. This is in line with the Regulation of the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Number 17 of 2020 which also prohibits the export of fry.