Endangered snakes seized at airport

Multa Fidrus ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Tangerang   |  Sat, 06/07/2008 11:24 AM  |  City

Customs and excise officers have foiled a smuggling attempt of endangered snakes from Philadelphia, the United States, into the country through a cargo delivery service at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

"The six snakes wrapped in standard packaging and sent via a cargo delivery service were reported," Eko Darmanto, chief of intelligence at the customs office, said Friday.

He said the snakes, worth US$1,000 each in the United States, were boa species (Hypomelanistic Sp).

The six snakes were identified by officers as Sunglow, Albino and Dream Boa snakes and were going to be sent to someone in Surabaya, East Java.

"We will submit the snakes to the airport quarantine center for further identification and to determine whether they contain certain diseases that could endanger flora and fauna in the country," he said.

According to Eko, importing illegal animals violates quarantine law and perpetrators could face a maximum punishment of three years in prison or fines amounting to Rp 150 million (US$16,042).

"We will continue to investigate the case," he added.

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