Trail of Tesso Nilo Elephant Ivory Reaches Solo
An illegal wildlife hunt that killed a Sumatran elephant within Tesso Nilo National Park, in Lubuk Kembang Bunga village, Ukui district, Pelalawan Regency, Riau, has laid bare a bloodstained trail of ivory trafficking that ends up in Solo, Central Java. The carcass of the elephant was discovered on Monday, 2 February 2026, in the PT RAPP concession area, Block C99, Lubuk Kembang Bunga village, Ukui district, Pelalawan Regency. The adult male elephant, aged about 40 years, was found dead with parts of its head, trunk and tusks missing. The necropsy conducted by veterinarians from the Riau Office of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) confirmed the elephant died from gunshot wounds, and early investigations strongly indicated illegal wildlife hunting behind the animal7s death.
From this finding, a joint team from the Riau Regional Police (Polda Riau) and Pelalawan Police conducted an in-depth operation, resulting in the capture of 15 suspects between 18-23 February 2026, with three others still at large. Investigations revealed a large, cross-regional network of wildlife poaching, with roles spanning hunters, financiers, intermediaries, and ivory buyers. The 7.6-kilogram ivory was sold to several intermediaries and, ultimately, used to manufacture cigarette tubes in Central Java and East Java.
The elephant was found dead in the Bogus? area of PT RAPP; the next day, 3 February 2026, forensics teams and agents from the Polda Riau and Ditreskrimsus Ditreskrimum, along with Pelalawan Police, inspected the scene and carried out necropsy. The necropsy results estimated the time of death at about two weeks prior. The death was attributed to traumatic injuries from gunshot wounds, according to Kombes Ade Kuncoro Wahyu, Director of General Criminal Investigation (Reskrimsus) of the Riau Police. The initial findings indicate that the elephant was shot before its head was severed to take the tusks.
A multi-disciplinary investigation, incorporating scientific crime techniques, scene analysis, necropsy, digital forensics, GPS collar data, and ballistic tests in forensics labs, traced the chain of the trafficking network around Pelalawan and surrounding areas. The combined operation identified the suspects and their varying roles in the crime. “From there, we analysed the network of wildlife poaching, particularly elephants, to obtain information about the suspects,” said the director.
Fifteen Suspects Detained
From the in-depth investigation, the intelligence team arrested a trafficking syndicate across several locations during 18-23 February 2026. The suspects had different roles: executioners who shot elephants and cut tusks; financiers; ammunition owners; intermediaries; and ivory buyers. The six? eight? suspects from the Riau and Sumatera Barat region include RA (31), JM (44), SM (41), FA (62), HY (74), AB (56), LK (43), SL (43). In addition, seven suspects were arrested in Jakarta, Surabaya, Kudus and Solo, identified as AR (39), AC (40), FS (43), ME (49), SA (39), JS (47) and HA (42). Three other suspects remain at large in the absence of arrest (DPO): AN, GL and RB, involved in shooting and head-cutting, and ivory buyers.
Revenue Route from Riau to Padang to Surabaya
The Sumatra elephant was killed by suspect AN (a DPO) and his associate RA on 25 January 2026, with the elephant shot twice in the head. After the elephant died, AN and RA cut off part of the head with a machete or knife and continued into the night, around 21:00 WIB. Shortly after, RA allegedly contacted FA, the financier, and asked him to collect the 7.6-kilogram ivory. On 27 January 2026, FA retrieved the ivory from Pangkalan Lesung, Pelalawan, paying RA Rp 30 million. Afterward, HY, on HY? demand, FA cut the ivory into four pieces at his home. FA then delivered the four pieces to HY via a travel arrangement.