Environmental Law Enforcement Agency Hands Over Cross-Border Wildlife Trafficking Case to Deli Serdang Prosecutor's Office

Efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in the Sumatra region continue to show significant progress. The Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkum LHK) in Sumatra officially handed over a suspect, identified as MF, 26, along with evidence to the Deli Serdang District Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, 4 March.

This second-stage transfer was carried out after investigation files were declared complete (P-21). The case attracted attention because MF is strongly suspected of being involved in an organised international exotic animal trafficking network.

The case originated from a public report expressing suspicion of illegal activity in Deli Serdang Regency. Following up on this information, officers acted swiftly and conducted a raid operation on 14 January 2024. During the operation, MF offered no resistance when officers discovered seven rare birds protected by the state.

The wildlife that was successfully rescued included 13 barn owls and 3 brahminy kites. In addition to the animals, officers seized four bird cages and one mobile phone belonging to the suspect, which was used to conduct illegal transactions.

Hari Novianto, Head of the Gakkum LHK Agency for the Sumatra Region, revealed that the results of in-depth investigation showed a neat distribution pattern. The exotic animals were planned to be taken to Bireuen, Aceh, as a transit point before being smuggled out of the country.

“Information we have gathered shows that these exotic animals were to be sent to Thailand. This indicates that suspect MF is allegedly part of an international wildlife trafficking network. We are also investigating the possibility that MF is connected to the case of smuggling hundreds of wild animals previously revealed by Gakkum together with Customs at Langsa in February,” said Hari Novianto in an official statement on Tuesday, 10 March.

Law enforcement this time used the latest legal instrument, namely Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Law Number 32 of 2024. This law is an amendment to Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

With the new regulation, MF faces far heavier criminal penalties as a deterrent effect, namely up to 15 years imprisonment and maximum fines of Rp5 billion.

Currently, MF is in custody at the Deli Serdang District Prosecutor’s Office and is awaiting a court hearing to be held accountable for his actions before the law.