Three tonnes of pangolin scales smuggled, BKSDA says 1 kg requires 4–6 pangolins

The thwarting of a smuggling attempt involving 3,053 kilograms of pangolin scales at the Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta has exposed a large-scale illegal trade in protected wildlife in Indonesia. Officials estimate that thousands of adult pangolins would be needed to produce that amount of scales, given that to obtain 1 kilogram of pangolin scales, around 4 to 6 adult pangolins are required. This finding constitutes a serious alarm for conservation efforts for rare wildlife in the country. Deputy head Darman, speaking at Tanjung Priok Port on Wednesday (4 March 2026), explained that, according to expert analysis, a mature pangolin yields around 4–6 individuals per kilogram of scales. With a total seizure of 3,053 kilograms, it is estimated that thousands of adult pangolins would be needed to generate this quantity of scales. “So, if the figure is as stated, you simply multiply accordingly,” he added. Darman noted that pangolin scales are often misused as an additive in cosmetic products. He emphasised that pangolins are protected wildlife under the Environment and Forestry Ministry Regulation Number 106 of 2018. “Thus, under Law Number 5 of 1990 in conjunction with Law Number 32 of 2024, Article 21(2), it is forbidden for anyone to possess, own, keep, transport, and trade parts of protected wildlife,” he said. “We still need time to conduct investigations into who the perpetrators are and similar matters. In the meantime, we have secured and are conducting in-depth inquiries into those suspected of involvement in the smuggling.” Adhang explained that the case stemmed from an analysis of export documents. Officials assessed the Export Goods Notification (PEB) submitted by PT TSR, which listed two types of goods: sea cucumber and instant noodles. However, investigators found three compartments within the container, prompting suspicion that other goods were hidden. During inspection on Wednesday 18 February 2026, officers found the front of the container filled with boxes of instant noodles, while the rear contained 99 cartons of pangolin scales. In addition to pangolin scales, officers found 51 sacks of sea cucumbers with a total weight of 1,530 kilograms and 300 cartons of instant noodles weighing around 1,200 kilograms. Adhang highlighted that pangolin scales have a high market value on the black market. The findings were coordinated with conservation authorities for further identification. Based on initial examinations by the forest ecosystem control team and forestry police, the sample of scales is strongly suspected to be from the pangolin species Manis javanica. “That the samples presented to us, based on initial examinations, are strongly suspected to be pangolin scales of the species Manis javanica,” said Darman. The article concludes with a standard disclaimer and does not appear to be part of the main news report.