Severe! 3 Komodo Dragons Smuggled from NTT to Surabaya Using PVC Pipes

East Java Provincial Police have uncovered a smuggling operation of juvenile Komodo dragons, one of the protected animals, from Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) to Surabaya. Three juvenile Komodo dragons were smuggled, wrapped in PVC pipes.

“The suspects are suspected of committing the act of trading live protected animals in the form of 3 Komodo dragons or Varanus komodoensis originating from suppliers or hunters in the Pota area, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict, East Manggarai Regency, NTT Province,” said the Director of Special Criminal Investigation of East Java Police, Commissioner Roy HM Sihombing, as reported by detikJatim on Wednesday (15/4/2026).

The Deputy Head of Subdirectorate IV for Wildlife Crime of the Special Criminal Investigation Directorate of East Java Police, AKBP Hanif Fatih, explained the modus operandi of the perpetrators, where the juvenile Komodo dragons were placed inside PVC pipes to deceive officers. The PVC pipes were then placed inside cardboard boxes.

“When smuggling Komodo dragons using PVC pipes, the smuggled ones are small or juvenile Komodo dragons,” Hanif said.

There are six suspects in this case, with initials SD, RDJ, BM, RSL, JY, and VPP. Hanif said the perpetrators bought the Komodo dragons at a relatively cheap price before reselling them at a multiplied value.

“Then sold to Surabaya at a price of Rp 31.5 million per dragon. After arriving in Surabaya, the 3 Komodo dragons were sold again to Central Java at a price of Rp 41.5 million per dragon,” he said.

This operation has been carried out by the perpetrators since 2025. They have sold 20 Komodo dragons, totaling Rp 565 million.