Indonesian authorities have announced a significant victory against wildlife trafficking after uncovering an attempt to smuggle over a ton of endangered pangolin scales, valued at around $1.3 million. This incident occurred in the Asahan district of North Sumatra on November 11.
Rasio Ridho Sani, who oversees law enforcement at the environment ministry, revealed that the scales were intended for shipment to China via Malaysia and Singapore. The investigation led to the arrest of four individuals, three of whom are reportedly military personnel. They will face charges for their involvement in the illegal possession of protected animal remains. Further inquiries revealed that additional scales were discovered at the residence of one of the suspects in Asahan.
If convicted, these individuals could face up to 20 years in prison along with substantial fines, which could reach $314,000. Authorities estimate that the scales seized could come from approximately 5,900 dead pangolins.
The pangolin, often hunted for its scales and meat, is facing severe threats due to high demand, primarily in parts of Asia. The scales are used in traditional medicine despite a lack of scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness. Pangolin meat is also regarded as a delicacy in countries like Vietnam and China.
Among the four Asian species of pangolins, one is classified as endangered and the others as critically endangered by international conventions, making their trade illegal. Sani highlighted the ecological impact of poaching pangolins, stating that the loss of thousands of these animals disrupts nature and harms both the environment and society. He emphasized the importance of enforcing maximum penalties for the suspects to deter future crimes.
This year alone, Indonesian authorities have thwarted eight similar smuggling attempts on Sumatra island, reinforcing the troubling trend driven by the high demand for pangolin products. Such actions are critical in protecting these vulnerable creatures from extinction.
