RRI.CO.ID, Banjarmasin - The South Kalimantan Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Agency successfully intercepted an illicit attempt to move 179 protected turtles through Trisakti Harbor in Banjarmasin. The smuggling effort was thwarted on Thursday, April 9, 2026, after officers uncovered a shipment destined for Surabaya that had been carefully disguised as an ordinary commercial package.

The seizure highlights the persistent pressure on Indonesia's biodiversity, as the shipment contained three distinct protected species. Head of South Kalimantan Quarantine, Erwin AM Dabukke, identified the cargo as consisting of 148 Southeast Asian Box Turtles (Cuora amboinensis), 29 Black Marsh Turtles (Siebenrockiella crassicolis), and two Bornean River Turtles (Orlitia borneensis).

"All of them have protected status in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry Number P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 concerning Protected Plant and Animal Species," Erwin said, confirming that every animal in the shipment falls under strict legal protection, as quoted by Antara.

The operation was triggered by an alert from a local logistics company that flagged a suspicious sack-wrapped package lacking clear contents. Upon inspection, quarantine officers discovered the turtles crammed into a container that failed to meet basic transportation standards.

Erwin emphasized that these poor conditions were a direct violation of animal welfare, as the lack of space and ventilation posed a significant threat to the animals' lives. Beyond the physical cruelty, the shipment was entirely devoid of the required Health Certificates and the Domestic Wild Plant and Animal Transport Permits (SATS-DN) usually issued by the Natural Resources Concervation Agency (BKSDA).

The absence of these documents represents a critical breach of biosecurity and conservation protocols. "These provisions aim to control the circulation of wildlife and prevent illegal trade practices of protected wildlife that can threaten the sustainability of the species," Erwin explained, noting that unregulated movement of wildlife can lead to the spread of disease and ecological instability.

He further stressed that the success of this bust was a result of a broader strategy to secure transport hubs, adding that "this quarantine action is part of the agency's commitment to strengthening supervision of the traffic of wild and rare plants and animals through synergy with various parties."

Following the rescue, the turtles were handed over to the Law Enforcement (Gakkum) team and transported to the South Kalimantan BKSDA office in Banjarbaru. The animals are now slated for a rehabilitation program to ensure they are fit for translocation or a return to their original wild habitats.

Head of South Kalimantan BKSDA, Agus Ngurah Kresna Kepakisan, expressed deep appreciation for the inter-agency coordination, reminding the public that cross-institutional collaboration in maintaining the sustainability of wildlife from the threat of illegal trade remains the most effective defense against the black market's exploitation of Indonesia's natural heritage. ***

https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5519751/karantina-kalsel-gagalkan-penyelundupan-179-ekor-kura-kura-dilindungi