NTT Deputy Governor Urges Komodo National Park Authority to Collaborate with Police on Komodo Theft Investigation

Two residents were arrested by police for stealing and selling a Komodo dragon in East Manggarai, Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). The rare animal was sold for Rp 5 million to a receiver in Surabaya, East Java.

NTT Deputy Governor Johni Asadoma has urged the Komodo National Park Authority (BTNK) to collaborate with the police to investigate the Komodo theft. According to him, the investigation is necessary to uncover the motive and methods of the theft to prevent it from happening again.

“Our hope is that security must be strengthened, and cooperation in the field must be strengthened,” said Johni in Kupang, NTT, on Thursday (9/4/2026).

According to Johni, Komodo theft or smuggling has occurred several times. He considers it important to empower the surrounding community to monitor and prevent similar incidents from happening again.

“The community must be involved in monitoring and empowerment by the TNK,” said Johni.

“Collaboration between the TNK, police, and the community—we are confident that no matter the method, it will not happen,” he concluded.

Previously, two residents of East Manggarai were arrested by police after stealing and selling a Komodo dragon to a receiver in Surabaya. The Komodo was captured in Pota, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict, East Manggarai, which is also a Komodo habitat outside Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai.

The East Java Provincial Police uncovered the Komodo sale transaction and coordinated with the East Manggarai Police Resort to arrest the two perpetrators, namely Ruslan and Junaidin Yusuf (30).

The two men, who have been designated as suspects by the East Java Provincial Police, were arrested in the East Manggarai area. Meanwhile, the receiver in Surabaya has also been arrested and designated as a suspect.