Stealing and Selling Komodo to Surabaya, Two Men in East Manggarai Arrested by Police

East Java Provincial Police and East Manggarai Police Resort arrested two suspected thieves of a Komodo dragon in Pota, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict, East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Pota is one of the Komodo habitats located outside Komodo National Park in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai. According to detikBali on Monday (6 April 2026), the Komodo theft occurred in 2025. The Komodo was sold to a receiver in East Java and was successfully uncovered by East Java Provincial Police. The Komodo theft perpetrators arrested in the East Manggarai area are Ruslan and Junaidin Yusuf (30). “We are only backing up East Java Provincial Police in securing two suspects allegedly involved in the capture and trade of protected wildlife, namely Komodo,” said the Head of Criminal Investigation at East Manggarai Police Resort, Iptu Ahmad Zacky Shodri, on Sunday (6 April). Zacky explained that Ruslan was first arrested by the Mobile Brigade Unit of East Manggarai Police Resort on 29 March 2026. Ruslan was arrested at his home in Londang Village, Nanga Baur Village, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict, East Manggarai. “The action against R (Ruslan) was carried out based on the Arrest Warrant Number: SP.Kap/II/III/RES.5/2026/Ditreskrimsus/Polda Jatim. From the case development, police found the involvement of other perpetrators in that network,” he said. After Ruslan was arrested, East Java Provincial Police personnel came to East Manggarai to help hunt for Junaidin. Junaidin had fled by moving hiding places during the three-day police pursuit. The Pota resident of Pota Ward, Sambi Rampas Subdistrict, finally surrendered to the police on 3 April 2026.