Indian Movie Director Arrested at Indonesian Airport over Protected Animals Smuggling Attempt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bollywood director from India, Raama Mehra, 56, was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta Airport for allegedly smuggling two birds of paradise (Papuan cendrawasih birds) and an otter in a suitcase. 

Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, stated that Raama Mehra's arrest stemmed from suspicion regarding the results of a passenger’s suitcase X-ray image. The suitcase was later known as Mehra’s.

"The item was registered as baggage on Indigo Air flight number (6E 1602) bound for Mumbai, India," said Gatot in a press conference at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office, Tangerang, on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Gatot explained the suitcase contained a lesser bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea minor), a Wilson’s bird-of-paradise (Cicinnurus respublica), and an Albino small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus). These animals were hidden within various kinds of food, clothes, handbags, and children's toys.

"The passenger (Raama Mehra) was then taken into custody at the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office for further inspection," said Gatot.

According to Gatot, the animals smuggled by Mehra required a special permit to transport as they are listed in Appendix I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). 

"CITES is an international agreement that rules the trade of wild animals and plants to prevent overexploitation and protect animals from extinction," said Gatot.

The three animals are designated as protected animals under the Indonesian Conservation Law in conjunction with the attachment to Ministerial Regulation No. 106 of 2018 concerning Protected Types of Plants and Animals.

Raama Mehra is named as a suspect

Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Customs Enforcement and Investigation Office, Zaky Firmansyah, said Raama Mehra admitted to working as a Bollywood actor and film director.

"He was on a holiday in Indonesia and was heading back to India. He admitted that his acquaintance from India left him a suitcase at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport to be given to someone upon his arrival in India,” said Zaky.

The Soekarno-Hatta Customs and Excise team then found that Mehra was already carrying the suitcase containing the smuggled animals when he arrived at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Authorities already named Mehra the suspect under Article 102A of Customs Law No. 17 of 2006. He’s facing a maximum of 10 years in prison and a Rp5 billion fine. 

The smuggled animals are handed over to the Jakarta Natural Resource Conservation Agency.

AYU CIPTA

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