Enviro News Asia, Pekanbaru – The Directorate of Forestry Crime Enforcement, under the Ministry of Forestry, through Forestry Investigators in Pekanbaru, has named MS (24), a resident of Megang Sakti II Village, Megang Sakti II District, Musi Rawas Regency, South Sumatra Province, as a suspect for allegedly possessing and transporting pangolin scales (Pholidota) on February 1, 2025. Pangolins are protected by law and cannot be traded.
MS (24) is currently detained and placed in Class IIB Rengat Detention Center. “Evidence seized includes one sack containing approximately 30 kilograms of pangolin scales, one mobile phone, and one speedboat ticket,” said Hari Novianto, Head of the Sumatra Regional Law Enforcement Office (Gakkum), in a press release on Monday, February 3, 2025.
The legal process against MS (24) began when a patrol team from the Tembilahan Customs and Excise (BC) intercepted a speeding boat in the Sapat waters of Kuala Indragiri, Indragiri Hilir Regency, Riau, on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Upon inspecting the boat, the patrol team discovered one sack containing approximately 30 kg of pangolin scales and identified MS (24) as a passenger who admitted to owning the scales.
The BC patrol team then took MS and the sack of pangolin scales to the Customs and Excise Service and Supervision Office (KPPBC) in Tembilahan for further handling by Forestry Investigators. Following the case transfer from KPPBC Tembilahan, investigators questioned witnesses. Based on the case review and sufficient preliminary evidence, the case was escalated to a full investigation. MS (24) is suspected of violating Law No. 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.
Rudianto Saragih Napitu, Director of Forestry Crime Enforcement, emphasized that cracking down on the trade and smuggling of Wild Plants and Animals (TSL) and forest products remains a top priority for the Ministry’s Law Enforcement Directorate. In November 2024, the Directorate also successfully thwarted an illegal trade of 1.2 tons of pangolin scales in Kisaran, North Sumatra.
