Smuggling protected animals?

Smuggling protected animals?

In its May 20 edition, Bisnis Indonesia reported that two
Japanese were detained by police at Sukarno-Hatta Airport for
smuggling endangered animals. The smuggled animals were: 33 malu-
malu birds (all of which died), three rajawali (black hawks),
four elang (eagles) and two owls.

If convicted, the defendants could be sentenced to five years
in prison and be fines Rp 100 million. What baffles me is the
potential severity of the punishment, because I believe that the
Japanese were unaware that the animals were protected.
Furthermore, if the animals are protected, why were they for sale
at bird markets?

Again if these Japanese really had the intention of smuggling,
they would not have been so naive as to show those animals
(including the dead ones) to customs officials in broad daylight.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta