Ministry Of Environment And Forestry Failed To Trade Tiger Skin In Jambi, 3 People Successfully Arrested

Officers from the Law Enforcement Center of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry showed evidence of buying and selling tiger skin and bones in Jambi. (PHOTO ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Environment and Forestry)

JAMBI - Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK) together with the Jambi Regional Police managed to thwart tiger skin trafficking activities in Sorolangun Regency, Jambi Province. Three sellers of protected animal parts were arrested on Jalan Lintas Sarolangun-Bangko, on May 10, 2023. "We will continue to synergize with relevant law enforcement officials to eradicate hunting and trade activities of protected animals in order to preserve them," said Head of the Law Enforcement Center of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for the Sumatra Region, Subhan, in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, May 12. Investigators named three suspects based on a temporary investigation, namely MA (46) which has its address at Paseban Village, VII District, Koto Ilir, Tebo Regency, Jambi Province; MK (33) which is located at Sungai Abang Village, Sarolangun District, Sarolangun Regency, Jambi Province; and ML (48) which is located at Aur Gading Village, Sarolangun District, Sarolangun Regency, Jambi Province. The three suspects are currently being held at the Jambi Police detention center. Meanwhile, evidence in the form of two sacks of bones and Sumatran tiger skin, one car, one motorbike, and three cell phones were secured at the Jambi Tiger Brigade's Mako SPORTC. He explained that the three suspects are currently still in the process of being investigated by investigators from the Law Enforcement Center of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to explore the possible involvement of other parties and the circulation network of wild plants and animals in Jambi. For this act, the suspect will be threatened with criminal penalties based on Article 21 Paragraph 2 Letter d junto 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. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry in recent years has carried out 1,931 environmental security operations and forest areas in Indonesia. A total of 456 of them are livestock and plant operations. Then, there are 1,375 criminal and civil cases that have been brought to court, both related to corporate and individual crimes.

"We continue to strengthen the use of technology, such as cyber patrols and intelligence centers for surveillance of protected animal trade," Subhan said.