Police Unveil Smuggling Attempts of Lobster Seed, Crocodile Hatchlings in Batam
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31 May 2024 12:35 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Riau Islands Regional Police uncovered three cases of crimes against the conservation of natural resources and their ecosystems and fisheries. The crimes include smuggling lobster seeds, crocodiles, and protected animals called binturong (bearcat) in Batam.
In the first case, the police confiscated two bearcats in Sekupang District, Batam City from a resident with the initials RS.
"RS was not arrested because they took care of the two binturongs from childhood, for at least 10 years," said the Director of Special Crimes Agency at Riau Police Chief Commissioner of Police Putu Yudha Prawira on Thursday, May 30.
The pair of binturongs were then handed over to the Riau Islands Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) for further care.
"We are worried that these animals would not survive in the wild because they have been kept from such a young age. Therefore, we decided to entrust them to the conservation center in Riau Islands,” Head of Region 1 BKSDA Riau, Amri, on the same occasion.
Smuggling of 52 Live Crocodiles Hatchlings
Meanwhile, in the second case, the Riau Islands Regional Police arrested MR and IR at Tanjung Riau People's Harbor, Batam City, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, for smuggling attempts. They were found trying to smuggle 52 estuarine crocodile hatchlings to Thailand.
“The perpetrator will smuggle this estuarine crocodile to Thailand. The routes crossed include Riau, Batam, Malaysia, and Thailand," said Police Commissioner Putu Yudha Prawira.
The two perpetrators said the profit from hatchlingg sale reach Rp150 million. They are charged under Article 40 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph 2 of Law No. 5 of 1990 for 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp100 million.
Smuggling of 1,500 Lobster Seeds
The third case involved the arrest of HK who smuggled 1,500 sand-type lobster seeds at Sekupang Harbor, Batam City, on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
"We arrested one perpetrator with the initials HK who was carrying 1,500 lobster seeds from Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java," said Commissioner Putu Yudha Prawira.
According to the perpetrator, the wages received for delivering the smuggled lobster seed were Rp3 million, with a down payment of Rp2 million and the rest for payment after completion. HK admitted to having been ordered by someone with the initials U who is currently on the police’s wanted list.
As a result of this smuggling, the state suffered losses of up to Rp150 million. HK is subject to Article 92 Fisheries Law with a maximum fine of Rp1.5 billion and 8 years in prison.
Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Chief Commissioner Zahwani Pandra Arsyad, said he would continue to take firm action against perpetrators of environmental and fisheries crimes to preserve nature and natural resources.
YOGI EKA SAHPUTRA
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