Trade in Protected Wildlife from Papua Foiled at Tanjung Priok
A Joint Operations Team comprising elements from the Directorate General of Forestry Law Enforcement, the Criminal Investigation Agency’s PPNS Coordination Unit, and the Military Police Centre successfully foiled the sale of protected wildlife at Tanjung Priok Port, Jakarta, some time ago. The team secured 100 protected wild animals originating from Papua that were to be distributed illegally. All animals were evacuated and placed in the care of the Tegal Alur BKSDA Animal Rescue Centre in Jakarta for treatment and health checks.
Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, emphasised that wildlife trafficking has evolved into a business that exploits logistical loopholes and cannot be tackled solely at transport nodes. “The pattern is cross-regional and can be linked across countries, so the handling uses a multi-door and cross-agency approach. We are strengthening the tracking of financial flows with PPATK, and if the chain is transnational, we bring the handling to international cooperation channels, including Interpol. This operation shows that inter-agency synergy is working. At the same time, upstream supervision, especially in habitats and poaching hotspots, will continue to be strengthened to prevent hunting,” Januanto stated on Friday (13/6).
The Ministry of Forestry affirmed that tackling protected wildlife trade is carried out as a strategic state agenda to safeguard Indonesia’s biological wealth, especially irreplaceable endemic species. Supervision at logistics nodes is being tightened, enforcement is being strengthened, and network tracing is being pursued to reach those who profit. The Ministry urged the public to stop demand by not buying, keeping, or trading protected wildlife, and to actively report any indications of trafficking. “Protecting wildlife is not just a matter for law enforcement; it reflects our dignity as a nation in preserving forests and living heritage for future generations,” he said.
He explained that the case began with monitoring and intelligence gathering on the circulation of protected wildlife via sea transport to Jakarta. Based on this information, the joint operations team took action in the Tanjung Priok Port area to prevent the protected animals from entering the illegal distribution chain. The seized animals consist of various endemic and protected bird species typical of Papua, including 4 Eclectus Parrots, 2 Sulphur-crested Cockatoos, 19 Black-capped Lories, 6 Black Lories, 14 Victoria Crowned Pigeons, 3 Wompoo Fruit Doves, 19 Matari Pipits, 2 Pesquet’s Parrots, 3 Brown Lories, and 28 Rainbow Lorikeets. The handling of the animals is aimed at ensuring they remain alive and stable, while also supporting the evidentiary process.
During the operation, the team detained two individuals, with the initials BI and ZF, for questioning. Some of the animals were found without valid ownership or transport documents. The team is also tracing the shipping routes and the parties who orchestrated the circulation of these protected animals, including developing leads on the network profiting from the illegal trade. The trade and transport of protected wildlife constitutes a criminal offence under Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems, as amended by Law No. 32 of 2024, specifically Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d. Perpetrators face a minimum prison sentence of 3 years and a maximum of 15 years, as well as fines ranging from category IV to category VI.