International Komodo Trade Network to Thailand Dismantled, Two People Arrested

Police have uncovered an international smuggling network for Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) from East Manggarai to Thailand, following the arrest of two perpetrators on Flores Island in Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province.

The head of criminal investigation at East Manggarai Police Resort, First Inspector Ahmad Zacky Shodri, stated that the success in revealing the case was due to cooperation between the East Java Provincial Police and the East Manggarai Police Resort in NTT.

“This case is a development from the Komodo theft that occurred in 2025,” he said.

In this case revelation, Zacky explained, the role of the East Manggarai Police Resort was only to back up the East Java Provincial Police when securing the two suspects, namely Ruslan and Junaidin Yusuf, who are suspected of being involved in capturing and trading Komodos.

“The two suspects are believed to be part of the distribution chain in an illegal wildlife trade network involving cross-regional areas up to abroad,” he said.

Ruslan was arrested first on 29 March 2026 in Londang Village, Nanga Baur Village, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict. The arrest was carried out based on a warrant from the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of the East Java Provincial Police.

From the development results, police then pursued another perpetrator, Junaidin Yusuf, who had fled for three days before finally surrendering on 3 April 2026.

Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of the NTT Provincial Police, Senior Commissioner Henry Novika Chandra, conveyed that they are giving serious attention to wildlife trade crimes, including those involving international networks.

“The NTT Provincial Police is committed to continuing to synergise in eradicating protected wildlife trade networks down to their roots,” he said.

He emphasised that trading Komodos as Indonesia’s endemic animals is a serious crime because it threatens ecosystem preservation and biodiversity.

He urged the public to actively participate by reporting any suspicious activities related to illegal rare animal trade.

“This revelation also reinforces the commitment of the apparatus in narrowing the operational space for wildlife smuggling networks that exploit cross-regional to international routes,” he added.