Ministry Foils Smuggling of 202 Protected Reptiles via Soekarno-Hatta

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry’s Law Enforcement Agency has foiled an attempt to smuggle 202 reptiles to Dubai through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Director General of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Forestry, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, said firm action is part of the national strategy to strengthen the protection of endangered species.

“Law enforcement is an important instrument to provide a deterrent effect and break the increasingly complex chain of illegal trade,” Dwi said on Saturday, April 4, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Authorities seized one boa python, 89 ball pythons, and 104 live iguanas, along with eight dead iguanas. None of the animals had valid permits.

A Russian national identified by the initials OS has been named a suspect. He was handed over to the prosecutor’s office along with evidence by the Forestry Law Enforcement Office for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara Region. OS is charged with a conservation crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a category VI fine.

Dwi said the case illustrates the increasingly complex international wildlife trade network. He stressed that law enforcement aims not only to punish perpetrators but also to dismantle illegal business chains that continue to expand.

“Illegal trade practices harm the state and threaten the balance of ecosystems that sustain human life,” he said.

Beyond enforcement, the government is promoting conservation through habitat protection, monitoring animal circulation, and cross-sectoral and international collaboration.

“This approach is expected to maintain wildlife populations and strengthen Indonesia’s position as the country with the greatest biodiversity in the world,” Dwi added.

He emphasized that public participation is crucial, particularly in avoiding the purchase of protected species and reporting suspicious activities. ***