Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA) \u2013 The Riau Islands Regional Police\nfoiled an attempt to smuggle approximately 100,000 lobster larvae (BBL)\nthat were allegedly to be shipped overseas via Batam, with potential\nlosses to the state estimated at Rp10 billion.<\/p>\n
Nona Pricillia Ohei, Head of the Public Relations Bureau of the Riau\nIslands Police (Polda Kepri), said in a press conference in Batam on\nThursday that two suspects, initials SS and DS, had been arrested in\nconnection with the case. \u2018There are around 100,000 lobster larvae\ncarried by the suspects. DS instructed to collect the goods, while SS\nacted as the courier of the BBL,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
She stated that the motive for the smuggling was to obtain personal\nprofit, while the country was harmed by the illegal export of marine\nresources. \u2018The losses to the state are estimated at Rp10 billion,\u2019 she\nadded.<\/p>\n
The officers then shadowed the vehicle transporting a case containing\nlobster larvae from Hang Nadim International Airport to the Mega Legenda\narea. \u2018Around 08.00 WIB the team stopped the vehicle,\u2019 said\nSilvester.<\/p>\n
From the examination, the suspects used a number of suitcases to\ncamouflage the goods. \u2018The luggage was only filled with four bags of\nlobster larvae, while the rest contained used cloth,\u2019 he said. \u2018Usually\nthe destination for the shipment is Vietnam, via several countries, one\nof which is Singapore.\u2019<\/p>\n
Silvester added that authorities were still probing possible\nconnections between this network and other lobster seed smuggling cases\nin the Riau Islands. \u2018It is still under investigation to locate the\nowners and those who paid,\u2019 he noted.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Kepala Balai Perikanan Budidaya Laut (BPBL) Batam Ipong\nAdi Guna said that most of the seized lobster larvae had been released\nback into the wild to preserve fishery resources. \u2018The count stood at\n122,445 individuals. One thousand individuals were set aside as\nevidence; the rest were released,\u2019 he said. \u2018The best decision was to\nrelease them back so they can once again become Indonesia\u2019s natural\nresources,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
The case was uncovered by a joint team comprising Ditreskrimsus of\nthe Kepri Regional Police, the Balai Karantina Hewan, Ikan, dan Tumbuhan\nKepulauan Riau, the Balai Perikanan Budidaya Laut, Customs, and other\nrelated agencies.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/around-100-000-lobster-larvae-seized-in-batam-state-losses-estimated-at-rp10-billion-1779542873", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }