Bali Water Police Foil Smuggling of 21 Green Sea Turtles in Buleleng, One Suspect Arrested
The Bali Police’s Water and Air Directorate (Ditpolairud) has thwarted an attempt to smuggle and illegally trade 21 green sea turtles on the coast of Pegametan Beach, Sumberkima Village, Gerokgak District, Buleleng Regency. During the operation, police secured 21 live green sea turtles and arrested a suspected perpetrator with the initials KS (67).
AKBP Nanang Pri Hasmoko, Head of the Law Enforcement Sub-directorate at Ditpolairud Polda Bali, confirmed the case. He explained that the action was taken after police received a public report suspecting protected wildlife trading activity in the coastal area of Pegametan Beach.
“It started with a report from the coastal community of Pegametan Beach who suspected illegal turtle trading activity in their area. Following up on this information, the Ditpolairud Law Enforcement Sub-directorate team immediately conducted a field investigation,” said AKBP Nanang, with the permission of Bali Police Director of Water and Air, Commissioner Nurodin, on Friday (19/6/2026).
Based on the investigation results, officers conducted a raid on Wednesday (10/6/2026) at around 10:00 p.m. local time on the coast of Pegametan Beach. At the location, police arrested KS, a resident of Seririt District, Buleleng, who is suspected of acting as a keeper of the protected animals before they were distributed.
From initial interrogation, the suspect admitted to receiving the 21 green sea turtles from a man named Iwan, who allegedly sent the animals via sea routes from Madura Waters, East Java. The turtles were reportedly planned to be picked up by another perpetrator with the initials KMG for further trade.
Police have now named three individuals as perpetrators in the case. KS has been detained, while the other two—Iwan (30) from Madura, suspected as the supplier, and KMG (35) from Buleleng, suspected as the receiver—have been placed on the wanted list.
In addition to arresting the suspect, officers seized evidence including 21 live green sea turtles and a grey Nokia HMD mobile phone suspected to have been used for communication in the illegal transaction.
During the investigation, investigators have also examined several witnesses to uncover the wildlife trafficking network, which is suspected to involve more than one perpetrator.
For his actions, the suspect is charged under Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Republic of Indonesia Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Amendments to Law Number 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, in conjunction with Republic of Indonesia Law Number 1 of 2026 on Criminal Adjustments.
Under these provisions, the perpetrator faces a maximum prison sentence of 15 years and a fine of at least category IV and at most category VII for allegedly hunting, capturing, storing, possessing, maintaining, and trading protected wildlife in a live state.
“Currently, the suspected perpetrator along with the evidence is at the Bali Police Ditpolairud Headquarters to undergo the investigation process and case development in order to pursue the other network members,” said AKBP Nanang.
Police confirmed that case development is still ongoing to hunt down the two fugitives and to uncover the possible existence of a cross-regional green sea turtle trafficking network supplying protected wildlife to Bali.