A social media-based illegal wildlife trade syndicate in Papua has\nbeen raided by authorities. The case involves a perpetrator identified\nby the initials MH (35), who works as a noodle vendor. The case has now\nbeen forwarded to court after the investigation files were declared\ncomplete (P-21).<\/p>\n
Through the Law Enforcement Agency of Forestry (Gakkumhut) for the\nMaluku and Papua Region, under the Ministry of Forestry, the suspect and\nall evidence were handed over to the Papua High Prosecutor\u2019s Office on\nMonday (31\/8).<\/p>\n
During this covert operation, authorities successfully rescued seven\nprotected endemic birds with hooked beaks, including five Black-capped\nLoris (Lorius lory), one Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), and one\nCook\u2019s Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), along with four cages used for\ncontainment, according to the official Ministry of Forestry website on\nFriday (4\/9\/202 $ ext{6}$).<\/p>\n
The exposure of this illegal business began with routine cyber\npatrols conducted by the SPORC Brigade Kanguru Intelligence Team. In\nJune 2026, officers detected a Facebook account under the name Muhlis\nNababan showcasing photos and videos of several parrots in cages with\nthe cryptic caption, \u201cNgelumpukno Manok Emprit\u201d.<\/p>\n
Digital surveillance was subsequently intensified. As a result, on 20\nJuly 2026, the account began openly offering protected wildlife,\ncomplete with estimated prices and transaction locations in the Entrop\narea, Jayapura City.<\/p>\n
Based on investigations within the comment section, the perpetrator\nset varying prices: an Eclectus Parrot for Rp350,000, a Black-capped\nLoris for Rp300,000, and a Cook\u2019s Cockatoo reaching Rp1.4 million per\nbird. Potential buyers were then directed to continue transactions\nprivately via WhatsApp.<\/p>\n
During interrogations, MH admitted to obtaining the rare animals from\na street supplier network using a Cash on Delivery (COD) scheme.<\/p>\n
On the night of Saturday, 18 July 2026, MH purchased five\nBlack-capped Loris and one Eclectus Parrot for Rp200,000 each on Jalan\nRaya Hamadi Entrop from a motorcyclist wearing a white jacket and a\nhelmet. Not satisfied, at 10:00 PM WIT that same night, he purchased one\nCook\u2019s Cockatoo for Rp1 million near the Holtekamp Red Bridge from\nanother mysterious helmeted supplier. The birds were then stockpiled at\nhis house to generate profit.<\/p>\n
It did not take long for authorities to strike. Armed with mature\ncyber intelligence data, the Flora and Fauna Trade Operation Team of the\nGakkumhut Agency moved swiftly on Wednesday night, 22 July 2026, at\n20:41 WIT.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by the Papua Regional Police PPNS Supervisor and local\ncommunity leaders, officers raided MH\u2019s residence in the South Jayapura\nDistrict. At the scene, all protected birds were found alive and were\nimmediately secured at the Gakkumhut Agency office.<\/p>\n
The legal consequences for MH\u2019s actions are severe. He is charged\nunder Article 40A paragraph (1) letters d and h in conjunction with\nArticle 21 paragraph (2) letters a and g of Law Number 32 of 2024,\nregarding the Amendment to Law Number 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of\nBiological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.<\/p>\n
The potential sentence is substantial, involving a minimum of 3 years\nand a maximum of 15 years in prison, alongside massive fines ranging\nfrom Rp200 million to Rp5 billion.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry continues to urge the public to actively\nbreak the chain of illegal trade by not keeping, buying, or selling\nprotected wildlife, and to report suspicious social media accounts to\nensure the preservation of Indonesia\u2019s biodiversity.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/noodle-vendor-arrested-over-bird-cod-transactions-facing-15-years-in-prison-1788508705", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }