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TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - Indonesian customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport arrested Syed Tafsir Husein, 43 years old, an Indian national. The Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs Office, Gatot Sugeng Wibowo, stated that Syed smuggled four protected animals, two langurs (Trachypithecus auratus), one Ambonese King Parrot (Alisterus amboinensis), and one Javan Hanging Parrot (Loriculus pusillus).
Gatot Sugeng Wibowo stated that Customs collaborated with the Airport's Aviation Security, the Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency in Banten, and the Jakarta BKSDA to prevent the export of these protected animals. 'Preventing the export of these animals is part of our commitment to preserving Indonesia's endemic fauna,' Gatot told Tempo on Tuesday, November 6, 2024.
Gatot explained that the operation on October 29, 2024, began with information about an attempt to smuggle animals through Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Officers then monitored and suspected a suitcase owned by a passenger with the initials Syed, recorded as baggage on IndiGo Airlines flight (6E-1602) from Jakarta (CGK) to Mumbai (BOM).
'Due to this suspicion, the Customs team at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the Airport's Aviation Security, the Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency in Banten, and the Jakarta BKSDA summoned the passenger,' Gatot said.
During the inspection of the suitcase, witnessed by the passenger, officers found two langurs, one Ambonese King Parrot, and one Javan Hanging Parrot. These endemic Indonesian animals were concealed in plastic boxes and animal bags, disguised with food, clothing, and toys (false concealment).
Gatot stated that langurs live in various regions in Indonesia, such as Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Bangka, Belitung, and the Riau Islands. They are characterized by black/orange hair with silvery accents, pale gray bellies, and a tuft.
Meanwhile, the Ambonese King Parrot is only found in West Papua and the Maluku region, with red and green wings. The Javan Hanging Parrot, on the other hand, is endemic to Java and Bali, with green feathers resembling leaves. 'These animals are currently threatened due to habitat destruction and rampant poaching by humans,' Gatot said.
In Indonesia, these animals are classified as protected under Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, together with the appendix to Ministerial Regulation P.106 of 2018 concerning protected Plant and Animal species. Internationally, these animals are listed under Appendix II CITES, indicating they are at risk of extinction if hunting and trade are not controlled.
Gatot revealed that Syed admitted to buying the animals at an animal market in East Jakarta and intended to use them as gifts for his family in India. The team is still investigating whether this case is linked to other recent cases of smuggling rare animals at Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
66 Wild Animals Rescued from Smuggling
As of November 2024, Customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport has conducted five operations against the smuggling of wild animals abroad by foreign nationals, involving a total of 13 suspects and rescuing a total of 66 various wild animals. "Most of the animals were intended for smuggling to India and African countries," Gatot stated.
Based on preliminary evidence and sufficient proof, this case has been elevated to the investigation stage, with Syed being named as a suspect. Syed is charged under Article 102A of the Customs Law, with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 5 billion.
Suspect Syed also violated Article 87 of the Law concerning Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine, which carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison and a fine of up to Rp 3 billion. "The confiscated animals will be entrusted to the Jakarta BKSDA for care," Gatot said.
Officers leading an Indian national, the perpetrator of smuggling rare and protected animals, at the Customs office at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, November 5, 2024. Rare and protected animals that were unsuccessfully smuggled include two langurs, an Ambonese King Parrot, and a Javan Hanging Parrot. TEMPO/Tony Hartawan
Customs at Soekarno-Hatta Airport remains committed to collaborating with airlines and relevant parties to preserve Indonesia's fauna, especially rare animals prone to illegal trade. "I urge the public to help preserve the fauna by neither capturing nor trading protected animals," Gatot said.
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