Central Papua Quarantine Seizes Illegal Death Adder Shipment

RRI.CO.ID, Timika - Joint biosecurity and aviation security officers at Mozes Kilangin Airport in Timika, Central Papua, thwarted an attempt to illegally transport three live venomous Death Adder snakes (Acanthophis sp.) bound for Semarang, Central Java.

The interception occurred during routine cargo inspections at the airport's outgoing cargo area on Saturday, September 5, 2026. X-ray scans operated by Aviation Security (Avsec) flagged a suspicious cardboard parcel shipped via Lion Parcel for a Lion Air flight to Semarang. A physical inspection conducted jointly by Quarantine, Avsec, and courier staff revealed three healthy, live Death Adder snakes inside.

The shipment lacked mandatory quarantine health certification as well as transport permits required by conservation authorities. Following verification, the venomous reptiles were formally handed over to the Timika Region II Conservation Section (SKW II) under the Papua Center for Natural Resources Conservation (BBKSDA) for proper care and legal processing.

Quarantine and wildlife conservation leadership stressed that inter-agency collaboration remains vital to preventing illicit wildlife trafficking and enforcing national biosecurity laws.

"Quarantine plays a vital role in ensuring that every animal and wildlife species transported meets health requirements, proper documentation, and applicable regulations," Head of the Central Papua Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Station Anton Panji Mahendra said in Timika on Monday, September 7, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He said that the public must not ship wildlife indiscriminately through commercial courier services, transporting animals without meeting quarantine requirements violates Law No. 21/2019 on Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine. Furthermore, as these involve protected wildlife species, their transport must comply with Law No. 32/2024 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems (KSDAHE).

Mahendra praised the joint action between aviation, logistics, and conservation agencies. "This cross-agency synergy between Quarantine officers, Avsec, Lion Parcel, and SKW II Timika BBKSDA represents a critical step in securing animal traffic and safeguarding Papua's rich biodiversity," he concluded. ***