Indonesia: Illegal animal trading suspects arrested in Central Java

The Jakarta Post 4 Jul 19;

The National Police have arrested and named suspect four people in Central Java for allegedly trading protected animals and violating the laws on wildlife conservation.

The arrests were made following reports filed by several wildlife organizations.

The four suspects, identified only as S, MUA, KG and AM, allegedly purchased wild animals, including different types of parrots, cockatoos and honey bears, to later be sold again.

On June 14, the Environment and Forestry Ministry along with the National Police’s specific crime division’s investigator and representatives of animal conservation organizations received a report of illegal animal transactions.

The team arrest S, along with a honey bear and handphone in Rembang, Central Java.

Following the investigation, MUA was arrested in Kaliwungu, Kudus, Central Java, on June 20. The law enforcers confiscated a handphone, 15 Tiong Mas parrots and cash amounting to Rp 6 million (US$424) during the arrest.

Information fetched from MUA’s phone led the investigation to KG’s house in Mayong, Jepara, Central Java.

AM was subsequently arrested in Bumirejo, Kebumen, Central Java, along with five birds that were meant to be sold, among other pieces of evidence.

According to the team’s investigation, the suspects operated using social media and opened two joint bank accounts to process transactions.

“We’ve exposed the international connection [of illegal animal trading],” Sr. Cmr. Adi Karia Tobing of the specific crime division said. “As we developed the case, it turned out that they’re also connected to local groups.”

In total, 26 animals, including 15 black parrots, five kangaroos, two cockatoos, two black-headed parrots and one dark parrot, were confiscated as evidence.

Specific crime division director Brig. Gen. Mohammad Fadil Imran said the suspects transported the animals, which came from the eastern part of the country, on fishing ships.

At the National Police headquarters, the suspects admitted that they had advertised the animals on Facebook. (dmy)