Indonesian Navy and BBKSDA Foil Smuggling of Eight Animals in Sorong

The joint patrol team, comprising personnel from the Naval Intelligence Unit (Denintel) and the Naval Military Police (Pomal) of Koderal XIV Sorong, along with BBKSDA officials, successfully prevented the smuggling of eight protected animals at the Sorong General Port.

Commander of Koderal XIV Sorong, Rear Admiral TNI Djatmoko, stated that this action is an important part of supporting efforts to prevent the smuggling of protected animals and other illegal commodities in eastern Indonesian waters.

“This action represents a collaborative effort between relevant authorities to enforce the law and maintain maritime security,” he said.

The animals were secured from aboard the KM Gunung Dempo, which was docked at the Sorong General Port on Friday (May 15).

“The eight animals consist of six black-headed cockatoos and two yellow-crested cockatoos,” he said.

He explained that, a day earlier, on Thursday (May 14), the joint patrol also thwarted the smuggling of protected animals and hundreds of kilograms of agarwood from a passenger ship heading to Surabaya.

During an inspection on deck 4 of the KM Gunung Dempo, officers secured a black-headed cockatoo from a passenger who had previously been apprehended by the ship’s security personnel.

Meanwhile, two yellow-crested cockatoos were found after being detected using an X-ray scanner as they were being carried by a worker who was about to board the ship. However, the owner of the animals fled when officers attempted to apprehend him.

After the KM Gunung Dempo continued its voyage to Ambon, Bau-Bau, Makassar, Surabaya, and Jakarta on Saturday (May 16) early morning, all seized animals were taken to the Office of KSDA Region I Sorong for data collection and identification.