Quarantine Agency Thwarts Smuggling of 10 Animals from Thailand

Tangerang (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Quarantine Agency (Barantin) along with Customs thwarted the smuggling of 10 live animals from Thailand carried out by an Indonesian national with initials HA via Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten.

The Head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau of Barantin, Hudiansyah Is Nursal, in Tangerang on Saturday, stated that the case was uncovered through cooperation between the Banten Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency and local Customs.

He explained that a passenger on an international flight from Thailand was suspected of carrying animals or wildlife without official quarantine documents.

“Following up on that information, quarantine officers along with related agencies immediately inspected the passenger’s luggage,” he clarified.

“The animals consist of three marmosets, four Panama lizards, two bearded dragons, one uromastyx lizard,” he said.

Hudiansyah stated that for every entry of carrier media, such as animals or wildlife, they must meet quarantine requirements to ensure their health condition before entering Indonesia.

“We appreciate the synergy between Customs, Quarantine, and law enforcement apparatus in strengthening supervision at the country’s entry points,” he said.

“Such actions pose a high risk to the safety of the animals as well as health and biosecurity aspects because entering animals without quarantine procedures could potentially bring pests and animal diseases,” he explained.

Duma added that the passenger with initials HA has been secured. In addition, all the animals are now secured at the Animal Quarantine Installation to undergo observation, health checks, and further quarantine measures.

“Supervision of animal and carrier media traffic at the country’s entry points will continue to be tightened to prevent the entry of animal diseases and illegal wildlife trade practices,” said Duma.