Attempt to smuggle rare monkeys foiled

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Sam Ratulangi Airport authorities foiled Thursday an attempt to smuggle six rare monkeys aboard a plane bound for Jakarta, Antara reported.

Airport quarantine officer Mukhibin Arief said yesterday the tarsius spectrum monkeys, the smallest monkeys in the world, were brought by a man from Minahasa regency identified only as BS. He was arrested just before boarding a Bouraq plane.

Arief said the man could be fined up to Rp 200 million (US$57.150) or sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Tangkoko-Batuangus forest reserve in Bitung municipality in the province is home to the tarsius spectrums monkeys, under the threat of extinction.

Arief said smuggling attempts had also been made over the past few months through Bitung port.

The rare animals are usually sold for between Rp 200,000 and Rp 250,000 each to foreign tourists in the province, he added. (swe)