The Jakarta Police have arrested seven people who allegedly traded 11 types of protected animals through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The traded animals include two crocodiles, five monkeys (four Javan lutung and one Javan surili) and two gibbons (siamang), Jakarta Police Spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Wednesday.
The suspects had allegedly bought the animals from sellers in Sumatra and Java, he said.
The animals were sold for Rp 2 million (US$140) to Rp 5 million each, a price considered high, given that the suspects reportedly only paid Rp 300,000 for each animal.
“The perpetrators offered the animals on Facebook or WhatsApp. They handed over the animals directly to their customers, face to face,” Argo said during a press conference on Wednesday.
Police have yet to estimate the total profits made by the suspects, who were arrested last week in Cengkareng, West Jakarta; Penjaringan, North Jakarta; Matraman and Rawamangun, East Jakarta; Pasar Minggu and Jagakarsa, South Jakarta; Bekasi and Beji, Depok.
They are charged under Law No. 5/1990 on the conservation of biological resources and ecosystems, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp 100 million.
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