TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Joint police force from the Indonesian Police Headquarter (Mabes Polri) and North Sumatra police office, led by Adjunct. Chief Commissioner Sugeng Irianto, uncovered illegal Javan pangolin (Manis javanica)’s meat storage in Niaga Malindo I Warehouse Complex, Medan I Mabar Belawan Industrial Park, Medan, on Thursday.
According to North Sumatra Police Head of Public Relation, Chief Commissioner Helfi Assegaf, around three tons of skinned and packaged pangolin meat were found during the raid, along with 16 boxes of skinned meat, 26 defective pangolin, and 1 unit digital scale.
“All the evidents of the protected animals were found inside the storeroom,” said Helfi to Tempo on Friday, April 24.
The finding has extended the list of protected animals trading after the Forestry Agency had previously revealed pangolin meat storage in Medan Industrial Area.
Police has named one suspect, Soemiarto Boediono a.k.a. Abeng for the pangoline illegal trading case.
“He will be charged under the law No. 5/1990. Aside from Aleng, the police is still developing the case,” Hefi said.
SAHAT SIMATUPANG