Dozens Of Nuri Birds Were Secured By The KLHK Gakkum From The Hands Of Wildlife Sellers In Ambon

KLHK officers confiscated dozens of Nuri birds/ Photo: Antara

MALUKU - The Law Enforcement Center (Gakkum) of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Maluku and Papua with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Maluku Police arrested a seller of protected wildlife in Batu Merah Village, Sirimau District, Ambon City.

The perpetrators selling the animals were arrested along with evidence in the form of 19 protected wildlife consisting of 11 Maluku Nuri birds (Eos Bornea), three Nuri Bayan (Ecletus Roratus), and five Nuri Tanimbar (Eos Reticulata). The evidence has now been secured at the KSDA Ambon Hall Transit Cage, said Head of the Maluku and Papua KLHK Gakkum Center, Leonardo Gultom, in Ambon.

He said the arrests began with information from the Animal Guard NGO in Ambon City regarding the sale of protected wildlife offered through the Facebook application.

The information, he said, was then followed up by collecting data and information by the Intelligence Team of the Kakatua Brigade Section II Ambon, Balai Gakkum, the Maluku and Papua Regions to prove the truth of the information on March 15, 2023.

After obtaining the truth of the information on the sale of protected wildlife, he explained, the Operation Team for the Kakatua Brigade Section II Ambon Center Gakkum KLHK Maluku and Papua along with the Directorate of Criminal Investigation of the Maluku Police carried out operations to circulate protected wild plants and animals by securing evidence at the perpetrator's residence.

"When they met, the perpetrator admitted to getting the protected wildlife from the ship carrying it from Aru Island, Seram Island, and Tanimbar Island," he said.

He stated that for this act, the perpetrator was threatened with criminal penalties based on Article 21 Paragraph 2 Letter a jo. Article 40 Paragraph 2 of Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems with a maximum imprisonment of five years and a maximum fine of Rp. 100 million.

Currently, he explained, Investigators from the Balai Gakkum KLHK Maluku and Papua Region are examining the perpetrators in order to investigate the alleged criminal acts committed and the involvement of other parties and individuals in the distribution network of wild plants and animals.

He admitted that his party would continue to develop this case to uncover the network of protected wildlife trade.

The consistency of the KLHK Gakkum in securing and enforcing criminal law is very important to ensure that biological wealth is Indonesia's comparative advantage that other countries do not have to stay sustainable.

"Apart from that, we continue to strengthen the use of technology, such as "Cyber Patrol" and "Intelligence Center" for surveillance of protected animal trade," Leonardo said.