TEMPO.CO, Tangerang-The smuggling of 15,000 lobster seeds that about to ship to Singapore and Vietnam were thwarted by Customs officers and Fish Quarantine of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The seeds, sized about 2-3cm and estimated to worth Rp450 million, were smuggled with an individual modus.

“The seeds were packed and hand carried by an individual,” Head of Monitoring and Information Control of Fish Quarantine Quality Control and Fishery Product Security Jakarta 1, Rusnanto, told Tempo on Wednesday, October 21.

The suspect, said Rusnanto, is currently undergoing intensive interrogation and will be charged with Article 31 of Regulation No.16 in 1992 on Quarantine, Animals and Plants with a threat of 3 years imprisonment and Rp150 million fines.

Rusnanto said that based on Maritime Minister Regulation No. 1 in 2015, lobster seeds are prohibited to be captured, as Indonesia has not been able to cultivate lobsters and such action certainly has threatens its habitat. Along 2015, the smuggling of lobster seeds has been thwarted twice.

“The lobster seeds were wrapped in three plastic bags and then placed inside numerous suitcases,” said Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Chief Helmi.

Customs officers were suspicious of suspect’s movements when entering the airport on Friday, October 16. An X-Ray scan showed that the suitcase contained plastic bags with water and sponge inside. Also, the number of suitcases that the suspect was carrying was unreasonable and wet, which aroused the suspicion of Type C Soekarno-Hatta Customs officers.

JONIANSYAH HARDJONO