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View all search resultsKomodo dragons smuggling ring busted, having sold 20 to Thailand
Suspects sourced the reptiles from hunters on Komodo Island, East Nusa Tenggara, and surrounding areas, purchasing them for about Rp 5.5 million (US$320) each.
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A young Komodo dragon roams the Komodo National Park on the island of Komodo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Nov. 22, 2019 as conservationists resisted plans to turn the natural habitat of the endangered species into a Jurassic Park-style attraction. (AFP/Goh Chai Hin)
T
he East Java Police Special Crimes Investigation Directorate (Reskrimsus) has dismantled a smuggling syndicate trading in protected endemic Indonesian species, including Komodo dragons, which fetch high prices in Thailand.
The investigation began in February after authorities received a tip off from the public. Six suspects were arrested for trafficking live Komodo dragons, with police seizing several pieces of evidence.
Head of sub-directorate IV of Reskrimsus, handling animal trade, environmental and forestry crimes, Adj. Sr. Comr. Hanif Fatih Wicaksono said two suspects, identified only as SD and BM, were arrested in February at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya. They were attempting to smuggle three juvenile Komodo dragons from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) by hiding them inside PVC pipes and cardboard boxes.
“We arrested the suspects as they tried to smuggle three juvenile Komodo dragons inside PVC pipes,” Hanif told a press conference at East Java Police headquarters on Wednesday.
He said that the suspects sourced reptiles from hunters on Komodo Island, NTT, and surrounding areas, purchasing them for about Rp 5.5 million (US$320) each.
Once arriving in Surabaya, the animals were resold for Rp 31.5 million each, then passed on to buyers in Sukoharjo, Central Java, for Rp 41.5 million each.
“From Sukoharjo, the Komodo dragons were sold to buyers in Thailand, where their market value skyrocketed. Juveniles could fetch up to Rp 500 million each,” Hanif said.
