TLII>>The Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of Banda Aceh Police uncovered a case of protected wildlife trade in the Peukan Bada area, Aceh Besar, on Tuesday (December 3, 2024).
The police confiscated evidence, including pangolin scales, wild goat skins, deer heads with the antlers cut off, deer antlers, mousedeer skins, hornbill beaks, a motorcycle, and various types of cell phones.
Banda Aceh Police Chief Kombes Pol Fahmi Irwan Ramli, through the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Kompol Fadilah Aditya Pratama, stated that two suspects were arrested, namely MF (28), a resident of Aceh Besar, and IR (35), a resident of Pidie.
“From MF, we secured three deer heads with the antlers cut off, six deer antlers, three sheets of wild goat skins, one mousedeer skin, and a cellphone,” he said on Monday (December 9, 2024).
“Meanwhile, from IR, we confiscated 30 kilograms of pangolin scales, a hornbill beak, an N-Max motorcycle, and two cell phones,” he continued.
Fadilah explained that the case was revealed after police received public information about a planned transaction involving pangolin scales.
“Based on that information, the team immediately conducted further investigations, eventually apprehending the two suspects. It was discovered that MF had ordered the pangolin scales from IR,” he explained.
For their actions, the two suspects are currently being held at Banda Aceh Police Headquarters. The police are also continuing to investigate the case to determine the origin of the items.
“We are still investigating where they came from, including the purpose of ordering the pangolin scales. Additionally, we are involving experts, in this case, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA),” said Fadilah.
“They are charged under Article 40A paragraph 1 letter f in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph 2 letter C of Law No. 32 of 2024, an amendment to Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems,” he concluded.
