Three-ton Pangolin Scale Smuggling Foiled Worth Rp 183 Billion

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Tanjung Priok Customs Office thwarted the smuggling of pangolin scales (Manis javanica) weighing three tonnes, or 3,053 kilograms, at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT), Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.

Head of the Tanjung Priok Customs and Excise Office (KPU) Adhang Noegroho Adhi said the 3-tonne pangolin scales are estimated to be worth Rp 183 billion.

‘3,053 kilograms of pangolin scales have a market value of around Rp 60 million per kilogram. Therefore, the total estimated value of the goods is Rp 183 billion,’ he said at a press conference at the Tanjung Priok Port Customs office on Wednesday, 4 March 2026.

Adhang explained that the seizure of illegal wildlife exports began when customs analysts reviewed container scan results.

Initially, the exporter submitted the Export Goods Declaration (PEB) with two items: instant noodles and sea cucumbers (teripang).

Officials then analysed the documents and scanned the goods using X-ray.

‘However, three compartments of goods were found, suggesting that items not declared in the export were present,’ he said.

In addition to pangolin scales, officials also found 51 sacks of sea cucumbers weighing a total of 1,530 kilograms and 300 boxes of instant noodles weighing about 1,200 kilograms.

Adhang explained that in the Export Goods Declaration (PEB) documents, the export destination was Cambodia.

‘The main export destination is Cambodia. Cambodia. In the PEB documents, the destination is Cambodia,’ he said.

However, authorities are still probing the exporter that submitted the documents.

He said that based on initial investigations, the company appears to be exporting for the first time.

‘But we are still examining those domestically; the company that notified us is new to exporting,’ he said.