T

he National Police have arrested a suspect, Yusuf Supriadi, who allegedly sold endangered species for high prices online.

Head of the special crimes unit at the police force'€™s detective division, Sr. Comr. Sandi Nugroho, told reporters that investigators were able to arrest the man by pretending to be a potential buyer and sending Yusuf a short message.

'€œThe suspect was successfully trapped by conducting a transaction through BlackBerry Messenger [BBM]. When we asked to meet, the suspect was immediately arrested and asked to show us the endangered animals,'€ he said on Wednesday.

Yusuf, who lives in Bogor, West Java, was caught with 10 baby eagles, four full-frown eagles and five bobcats.

Sandi explained that investigators discovered that Yusuf had obtained the animals through a supplier in Palembang, South Sumatra. The animals were then sold for high prices between Rp 2 million (US$137.08) and Rp 5 million.

If Yusuf is found guilty, he could face a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of Rp 100 million as stipulated by Articles 21 and 40 in Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of natural resources.

The police previously arrested another man, Yogie Januari, in Bogor in June for trading in protected species including green pythons and green Lizards hailing from Papua.