Customs Foil Smuggling of 3 Tonnes of Pangolin Scales to Cambodia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Tanjung Priok Customs and Excise prevented the smuggling of pangolin scales (Manis javanica) amounting to 3 tonnes, valued at Rp183 billion, which were planned to be sent to Cambodia.

Head of the Type A Customs and Excise Office, Adhang Noegroho Adhi, said the illegal wildlife export bust began with the customs analysis of the container scanning results. ‘We conducted analysis of the Export Declaration of Goods (PEB) notified by PT TSR. The notification listed two types of goods, namely sea cucumbers and instant noodles. However, three compartments of goods were found, so it is suspected that there are items not disclosed in the export,’ he said at a press conference at Tanjung Priok Port Customs, on Wednesday (4/3/2026).

In addition to pangolin scales, officers found 51 sacks of sea cucumbers with total weight 1,530 kilograms and 300 cartons of instant noodles weighing around 1,200 kilograms.

Adhang explained that the pangolin scales have a market value of around Rp60 million per kilogram. ‘3,053 kilograms of pangolin scales have a value of around Rp60 million per kilogram. Therefore the estimated total value of the goods is around Rp183 billion,’ he said.

The findings were coordinated with the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) for identification.

Based on early examinations by the forest ecosystem control team and forest police of BKSDA Jakarta, the scales are strongly suspected to be from pangolins, a protected species.

‘That samples presented to us, based on initial examination, are strongly suspected to be pangolin scales or Manis javanica,’ said head of BKSDA Jakarta, Darman.

‘And everyone is prohibited from storing, owning, keeping, transporting, and trading skins, bodies, or other parts of protected animals,’ he added.

Currently, Tanjung Priok Customs has opened an investigation into the export by PT TSR and is continuing to probe the parties involved in the case.