Komodo Stuffed into PVC Pipe, Sold for Rp 31.5 Million
Illegal wildlife trade continues to thrive in Indonesia. Recently, the Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) of the East Java Regional Police uncovered a case of criminal acts against the conservation of living natural resources and their ecosystems (KSDHE), as well as violations of animal, fish, and plant quarantine regulations.
The police revealed five clusters of crimes, ranging from the illegal trade of protected wildlife to distribution without official procedures.
“This case is divided into five clusters, from the trade of protected animals to quarantine violations. This indicates that the network involved is quite extensive and organised,” said Dirreskrimsus of East Java Police, Roy H.M. Sihombing, in his official statement on Thursday (16/4/2026).
The first cluster involves the illegal trade of three Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis). The animals were obtained from the Nusa Tenggara Timur region for Rp 5.5 million. The juvenile Komodos were smuggled to Surabaya inside PVC pipes.
The suspects then resold them in Surabaya at a much higher price of Rp 31.5 million. Reports also indicate that the animals were marketed in other regions at even higher prices.
There are six suspects in this case, who are also suspected of trading around 20 Komodos from January 2025 to February 2026. The transaction value reached more than Rp 565 million.
The second cluster involves the storage and sale of live animals for smuggling abroad. The police secured 16 animals consisting of 13 Talaud cuscuses and 3 tembung cuscuses, with four suspects in this case.
The third cluster also uncovered the trade of protected animals, namely four green pythons, one crested serpent eagle, and eight monitors. One suspect was arrested on suspicion of storing, keeping, and selling the animals.
For the fourth cluster, the police revealed a staggering value of Rp 8.4 billion. The suspect stored 140 kilograms of pangolin scales in a house in Surabaya, suspected to be illegally traded.
Meanwhile, two suspects were arrested in the fifth cluster for quarantine violations. They shipped animals between regions without official documents such as health certificates and failed to report to quarantine officers.
The seized evidence includes 89 animals, consisting of adult and juvenile soal layar, Sulawesi spiny lizards, and ringed pythons.
All suspects are charged under Law No. 32 of 2024 amending Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, as well as Law No. 21 of 2019 on Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine, with severe criminal penalties.