Noodle Vendor Arrested Over Bird COD Transactions, Facing 15 Years in Prison
A social media-based illegal wildlife trade syndicate in Papua has been raided by authorities. The case involves a perpetrator identified by the initials MH (35), who works as a noodle vendor. The case has now been forwarded to court after the investigation files were declared complete (P-21).
Through the Law Enforcement Agency of Forestry (Gakkumhut) for the Maluku and Papua Region, under the Ministry of Forestry, the suspect and all evidence were handed over to the Papua High Prosecutor’s Office on Monday (31/8).
During this covert operation, authorities successfully rescued seven protected endemic birds with hooked beaks, including five Black-capped Loris (Lorius lory), one Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus), and one Cook’s Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), along with four cages used for containment, according to the official Ministry of Forestry website on Friday (4/9/202 $ ext{6}$).
The exposure of this illegal business began with routine cyber patrols conducted by the SPORC Brigade Kanguru Intelligence Team. In June 2026, officers detected a Facebook account under the name Muhlis Nababan showcasing photos and videos of several parrots in cages with the cryptic caption, “Ngelumpukno Manok Emprit”.
Digital surveillance was subsequently intensified. As a result, on 20 July 2026, the account began openly offering protected wildlife, complete with estimated prices and transaction locations in the Entrop area, Jayapura City.
Based on investigations within the comment section, the perpetrator set varying prices: an Eclectus Parrot for Rp350,000, a Black-capped Loris for Rp300,000, and a Cook’s Cockatoo reaching Rp1.4 million per bird. Potential buyers were then directed to continue transactions privately via WhatsApp.
During interrogations, MH admitted to obtaining the rare animals from a street supplier network using a Cash on Delivery (COD) scheme.
On the night of Saturday, 18 July 2026, MH purchased five Black-capped Loris and one Eclectus Parrot for Rp200,000 each on Jalan Raya Hamadi Entrop from a motorcyclist wearing a white jacket and a helmet. Not satisfied, at 10:00 PM WIT that same night, he purchased one Cook’s Cockatoo for Rp1 million near the Holtekamp Red Bridge from another mysterious helmeted supplier. The birds were then stockpiled at his house to generate profit.
It did not take long for authorities to strike. Armed with mature cyber intelligence data, the Flora and Fauna Trade Operation Team of the Gakkumhut Agency moved swiftly on Wednesday night, 22 July 2026, at 20:41 WIT.
Accompanied by the Papua Regional Police PPNS Supervisor and local community leaders, officers raided MH’s residence in the South Jayapura District. At the scene, all protected birds were found alive and were immediately secured at the Gakkumhut Agency office.
The legal consequences for MH’s actions are severe. He is charged under Article 40A paragraph (1) letters d and h in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letters a and g of Law Number 32 of 2024, regarding the Amendment to Law Number 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.
The potential sentence is substantial, involving a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years in prison, alongside massive fines ranging from Rp200 million to Rp5 billion.
The Ministry of Forestry continues to urge the public to actively break the chain of illegal trade by not keeping, buying, or selling protected wildlife, and to report suspicious social media accounts to ensure the preservation of Indonesia’s biodiversity.