BKSDA Maluku Foils Coconut Crab Smuggling Attempt at Ambon Port
- 22 Jul 2026 11:02 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- BKSDA Maluku intercepted five protected coconut crabs (Birgus latro) during a routine X-ray baggage inspection at Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon.
- The confiscated animals were transferred to the Maluku Islands Wildlife Conservation Center, while authorities reminded the public that trafficking protected wildlife carries severe criminal penalties.
RRI.CO.ID, Ambon - The Maluku Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle five coconut crabs (Birgus latro) through the passenger terminal at Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon.
The protected crustaceans were uncovered during a routine luggage screening using X-ray machinery conducted jointly by BKSDA port officers and inter-agency maritime security personnel.
"The protected wildlife was discovered when officers at the Yos Sudarso Port post, along with relevant agencies, conducted routine baggage inspections using X-ray machines," said a Forest Police Officer at BKSDA Maluku, Cardolin Lattuputy, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
Following the seizure, the five coconut crabs were temporarily secured at the port station before being transferred to the Maluku Islands Wildlife Conservation Center for medical evaluation and further care.
Cardolin emphasized that the operation forms part of heightened monitoring across transit hubs in Maluku to curb illegal wildlife trafficking. Alongside securing the specimens, officers conducted on-site educational outreach to ferry passengers, informing them of the species' protected status under Law No. 32/2024 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and The Ecosystems.
"The public is strongly urged not to catch, keep, trade, or transport protected animals without official permits, as such acts carry severe criminal sanctions including imprisonment and heavy fines," Cardolin added.
Under Indonesia's conservation legal framework, individuals who intentionally capture, injure, kill, possess, transport, or trade protected species face up to five years in prison and maximum fines of IDR 100 million (USD 6,150). BKSDA Maluku reaffirmed its commitment to tightening surveillance across regional ports and airports to preserve the archipelago's marine and terrestrial biodiversity. ***
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