Smuggling suspect disguises 3 tonnes of pangolin scales in instant noodles and sea cucumbers

The Tanjung Priok Customs Office thwarted smuggling of 3 tonnes of pangolin scales worth Rp 183 billion that were intended for export to Cambodia. The smuggler concealed pangolin scales using instant noodles and sea cucumbers to mislead officers. Head of Tanjung Priok Customs, Adhang Noegroho Adi, said the seizure began after field officers suspected that a container did not match the export declaration (PEB). Officers found three different types of goods, whereas the report listed only two. “Starting from the analysis of container scans entering Tanjung Priok Port. From there we analysed the export declarations submitted by PT TSR, which reported two types of goods: sea cucumber (teripang) and instant noodles (mi instan),” Adhang said at a press conference at the Tanjung Priok Customs Office, North Jakarta, Wednesday 4 March 2026. Next, officers found irregularities because there were parts not reported in the PEB. This was picked up by the scanning equipment. “However it was found that there were three compartments so it is suspected there were goods not reported in the export. So based on the imaging results and our analysis we probed further,” he said. In response, Customs issued an Intelligence Findings Note. Adhang suspects this was done as an attempt to evade export prohibitions and/or restrictions. “Subsequently, follow-up actions included a physical inspection of the suspected container, a single 20-foot container, on 18 February 2026,” he said. “And the results showed that the quantity and type of goods examined did not match the documents,” he added. As a result, field officers found 99 animal scales in a dry state of various sizes. There were pangolin scales, instant noodles, and sea cucumbers. “Animal scales weighing 3,053 kilograms, sea cucumbers numbering 51 bags with a total weight of 1,530 kilograms, and instant noodles amounting to 300 cartons with a total weight of 1,200 kilograms, as well as one piece of item resembling a piece of wood, implying that 3,053 kilograms of animal scales were not declared,” he said.