Ministry of Forestry investigates wildlife trafficking case from North Sumatra and Aceh

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is investigating the role of a suspect identified as MF who was caught attempting to sell protected wild birds as part of a protected wildlife trading network, along with similar cases in North Sumatra and Aceh.

Hari Novianto, Head of the Law Enforcement Division (Gakkum) for Sumatra Region at the Ministry of Forestry, confirmed in a statement from Jakarta on Monday that suspect MF had been handed over to the Deli Sedang District Prosecutor’s Office along with evidence for legal proceedings.

“The exotic animals were to be brought to Bireuen, Aceh, and subsequently smuggled abroad, specifically to Thailand. This indicates that MF is part of a transnational wildlife trafficking network,” said Hari Novianto, Head of Gakkum for Sumatra Region.

“We are investigating whether suspect MF is connected to the smuggling of hundreds of protected wild animals that was uncovered by the Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement Division and Customs in February in Langsa, Aceh,” he added.

From the arrest operation, officers successfully apprehended the suspect and secured evidence comprising seven birds classified as protected species. The suspect was found carrying three Sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua sulphuera), one Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus), one Moluccan cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), and two Red lories (Psittrichas fulgidus). Four bird cages and one mobile telephone were also seized.

If proven guilty, MF faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of 5 billion Indonesian rupiah.