{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1682302,
        "msgid": "komodo-stuffed-into-pvc-pipe-sold-for-rp-31-5-million-1776351079",
        "date": "2026-04-16 20:40:00",
        "title": "Komodo Stuffed into PVC Pipe, Sold for Rp 31.5 Million",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNBC",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "East Java Police have uncovered a major wildlife trafficking network involving protected species, including Komodo dragons smuggled from Nusa Tenggara Timur and sold at exorbitant prices in Surabaya. The operation, divided into five clusters, also seized Talaud cuscuses, green pythons, pangolin scales worth Rp 8.4 billion, and other animals, with suspects facing severe penalties under conservation and quarantine laws. This case highlights the organised and widespread illegal trade threatening Indonesia's biodiversity, with transactions exceeding Rp 565 million for Komodos alone.",
        "content": "<p>Illegal wildlife trade continues to thrive in Indonesia. Recently,\nthe Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the\nEast Java Regional Police uncovered a case of criminal acts against the\nconservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems (KSDHE),\nas well as violations of animal, fish, and plant quarantine\nregulations.<\/p>\n<p>The police revealed five clusters of crimes, ranging from the illegal\ntrade of protected wildlife to distribution without official\nprocedures.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis case is divided into five clusters, from the trade of protected\nanimals to quarantine violations. This indicates that the network\ninvolved is quite extensive and organised,\u201d said Dirreskrimsus of East\nJava Police, Roy H.M. Sihombing, in his official statement on Thursday\n(16\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n<p>The first cluster involves the illegal trade of three Komodo dragons\n(Varanus komodoensis). The animals were obtained from the Nusa Tenggara\nTimur region for Rp 5.5 million. The juvenile Komodos were smuggled to\nSurabaya inside PVC pipes.<\/p>\n<p>The suspects then resold them in Surabaya at a much higher price of\nRp 31.5 million. Reports also indicate that the animals were marketed in\nother regions at even higher prices.<\/p>\n<p>There are six suspects in this case, who are also suspected of\ntrading around 20 Komodos from January 2025 to February 2026. The\ntransaction value reached more than Rp 565 million.<\/p>\n<p>The second cluster involves the storage and sale of live animals for\nsmuggling abroad. The police secured 16 animals consisting of 13 Talaud\ncuscuses and 3 tembung cuscuses, with four suspects in this case.<\/p>\n<p>The third cluster also uncovered the trade of protected animals,\nnamely four green pythons, one crested serpent eagle, and eight\nmonitors. One suspect was arrested on suspicion of storing, keeping, and\nselling the animals.<\/p>\n<p>For the fourth cluster, the police revealed a staggering value of Rp\n8.4 billion. The suspect stored 140 kilograms of pangolin scales in a\nhouse in Surabaya, suspected to be illegally traded.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested in the fifth cluster for\nquarantine violations. They shipped animals between regions without\nofficial documents such as health certificates and failed to report to\nquarantine officers.<\/p>\n<p>The seized evidence includes 89 animals, consisting of adult and\njuvenile soal layar, Sulawesi spiny lizards, and ringed pythons.<\/p>\n<p>All suspects are charged under Law No.\u00a032 of 2024 amending Law No.\u00a05\nof 1990 on the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their\nEcosystems, as well as Law No.\u00a021 of 2019 on Animal, Fish, and Plant\nQuarantine, with severe criminal penalties.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/komodo-stuffed-into-pvc-pipe-sold-for-rp-31-5-million-1776351079",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}