Customs Seized 405 kilograms Pangolin Scales

Tangerang (ANTARA News) - Customs of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport foiled a smuggling attempt of pangolin scales worth IDR 2.1 billion.

The chief customs officer, Okto Irianto, stated that recently there had been three smuggling attempts from which the customs seized 405 kilograms of pangolin scales in total.

"Our officers have foiled three smuggling attempts, from which we seized 405 kilograms of pangolin scales, worth more than IDR 2.1 billion or approximately USD 400 per kilogram," said him.

In addition, they have also confiscated no less than 500 pangolins which was slaughtered for their scales. All evidence -including the scales- were collected from a storage building.

The first smuggling attempt occured on 13 January, when 18 kilograms of pangolin scales were seized from Garuda Indonesia's export storage before they made it to Hongkong. The scales were submitted as dried seahorses. The next case took place on 25 January, when 17 kilograms of pangolin scales were confiscated from Garuda Indonesia's export storage. The next day, authorities took 200 kilograms of pangolin scales submitted as 'foodstuff'. They came from Cameroon, and are still kept at the import storage.

Pursuant to article 21 of the Law no.5 of 1990 concerning the conservation of living natural resources and its ecosystem, it is illegal to capture, hurt, kill, and trade protected wildlife species either alive of dead.

"Upon proven, the subject is liable to 5 years of prison and IDR 100 million fines," added Okto.

Expert on environment and health from Universitas Riau, Ariful Amri, explained that pangolin scales contain an active substance of tramadol HCl which can also be found in psychotropic like meth.

All evidence from these cases is to be handed over to the Natural Resource Conservation Agency of Jakarta.

Source: Antaranews.com