The Sulawesi Region Operations Team of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Law Enforcement Center (Gakkum) has arrested two protected wildlife traffickers with the initials SJ (47 years old) and FN (22 years old) in South Sulawesi Province.

“The perpetrators are both buyers and sellers of protected wildlife. We are committed to continue developing the disclosure and breaking the protected wildlife trade network,” said Head of the Sulawesi Region KLHK Gakkum Center Aswin Bangun in a press release received on Monday.

In addition to arresting the perpetrators, the team is still exploring the possibility of other parties involved and other species of animals being traded. The prosecution of protected wildlife criminals, he said, is the government’s commitment to protect Indonesia’s rich biodiversity.

“This crime is a threat to the preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems that are very important for the life of the Indonesian people,” he reiterated.

According to Aswin, wildlife trade is a very detrimental crime and is included in organized crime. Along with the advancement of time and technology, the protected wildlife trade has shifted from the conventional way of trading in markets to online.

Therefore, Gakkum LHK continues to develop various ways to carry out security of Wild Plants and Animals (TSL) such as through cyber patrols monitoring online trading on social media and collaborating with the Ministry of Communication and Information and the police to close accounts and their content allegedly used for transactions.

The disclosure of this case originated from public information about the trade of protected animals in Makassar. The KLHK Gakkum Center team conducted an investigation and follow-up through an integrated operation involving the Makassar Anoa Brigade Rapid Reaction Forestry Police (SPORC), Ditreskrimsus (director of special criminal detectives) South Sulawesi Police and South Sulawesi BKSDA.

From the results of the arrest operation, the team managed to secure evidence of 56 protected parrots, consisting of six Ornate Lorikeet (Trichoglossus ornatus), one black-capped lory (Lorius lory), one Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa).

Two unidentified birds (suspected to be a cross between Lorius lory and Trichoglossus haematodus) were alive and 46 Ornate Lorikeet (Trichoglossus ornatus) were dead.

The evidence and the two perpetrators were taken to the Sulawesi Region KLHK Gakkum Office. The results of the investigator’s examination, the birds came from Ampana, Tojo Una -Una Regency, Central Sulawesi Province sent by car to the perpetrator SJ’s house at Kubis Street, Wajo Baru Village, Bontoala District, Makassar, South Sulawesi.

After receiving the animals, the perpetrators sold them on Facebook. The price of the animals varied, with the black-capped lory costing Rp 1.5 million, the Coconut Lorikeet costing Rp 400,000-Rp500,000, and the Ornate Lorikeet costing Rp 300,000 each.

In this case, investigators named SJ and FN as suspects. For their actions, the two suspects were charged with Article 40 paragraph (2) Jo Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of Law number 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems,

Both suspects face a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp 100 million. Both are now detained at the South Sulawesi Police State Detention Center (Rutan) as remand prisoners awaiting trial.