Pangolin Scale Smuggling Method Masked by Instant Noodles

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — The Directorate General of Customs and Excise, under the Finance Ministry, seized pangolin scales exported in a shipment weighing 3,053 kg at Tanjung Priok Port. Head of the A-type Customs and Excise Office at Tanjung Priok, Adhang Noegroho Adhi, said the exporter used a modus operandi of listing other commodities in the Export Declaration (PEB) documents. In the documents, the company initials PT TSR reported cargo as sea cucumbers (teripang) and instant noodles. However, image analysis indicated three compartments within the container, raising suspicion among officers.

“From the image results and our analysis, based on information gathering, we issued a note of interrogation results because there were indications that the goods were not properly disclosed. This is suspected to be a form of arranging prohibited and/or restricted exports,” Adhang said at a press conference at the Tanjung Priok Port Customs Office on Wednesday 4 March 2026. The seizure included varying sizes, weighing a total of 3,053 kg. In addition, 51 sacks of sea cucumbers weighing 1,530 kg, 300 cartons of instant noodles weighing 1,200 kg, and a box containing items resembling pieces of wood were found.

Because the bodies of protected wildlife are suspected, Customs coordinated with the Jakarta Nature Resource Conservation Center (Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam DKI Jakarta). During inspection, officers confirmed that the scales originated from the pangolin or Manis javanica, a protected species under the Environment and Forestry Ministerial Regulation No. P.106 of 2018.

“From this action, further coordination has been undertaken and enforcement action has been taken against PT TSR’s export. It did not continue after we conducted deeper investigation and examination,” he said.

The pangolin scales were estimated to fetch around Rp60 million per kilogram. Accordingly, the total value of the illegal goods is estimated at around Rp183 billion.

“For the 3,053 kg of pangolin scales, this has a selling value of about Rp60 million per kg, so the total value is estimated at Rp183 billion,” Adhang stated at the press conference at the Tanjung Priok Port Customs Office on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

Adhang also disclosed that the destination country of the pangolin scales was Cambodia.

“The PEB document data states the destination as Cambodia, but we have not yet proceeded to that stage; we are still examining domestic aspects, as the reporting company is new to us. This remains under inquiry,” he said.

(haa/haa)