Indonesian authorities have charged one individual and are searching for at least two others, including a Vietnamese national, following the discovery of 3 metric tons of pangolin scales at Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port on February 18, 2026. The shipment, valued at an estimated $10 million on the black market, was concealed in a shipping container declared as sea cucumbers and was bound for Cambodia. This represents one of the largest known wildlife trafficking seizures in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Customs inspectors found 3,053 kilograms (6,731 pounds) of pangolin scales hidden among the cargo. Researchers at Indonesia’s Bogor Institute of Agriculture estimate that each kilogram of scales represents about five pangolins, suggesting that approximately 15,000 animals were killed to produce this haul. All eight species of pangolin are classified as threatened on the IUCN Red List and are protected under Appendix I of CITES, which prohibits international commercial trade.<\/p>\n
The only suspect currently in custody, identified as Tonni, has been detained on remand in Jakarta. According to Bambang Ari Wibowo, an investigator at Indonesia’s forestry ministry, Tonni confessed from the outset that he knew the goods were pangolin scales. Witnesses have corroborated this allegation. Prosecutors have charged Tonni under Indonesia’s wildlife conservation law with illegally trading a protected species, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine ranging from 200 million to 5 billion rupiah (approximately $11,000 to $276,000).<\/p>\n
Investigators are actively seeking two men believed to have organized the shipment. One suspect failed to respond to repeated summonses and is no longer living at his registered address. The second suspect, believed to be a Vietnamese national, is thought to have greater knowledge of the operation and remains at large. The forestry ministry has requested cooperation from police in Jakarta to locate at least one of the suspects. Detectives allege that Tonni received up to 30 million rupiah ($1,660) to help arrange the shipment but could not explain where the scales originated.<\/p>\n
Authorities are also investigating the involvement of two export agencies: PT Viena Trans Mandiri (VTM) and PT Temu Satu Rasa (TSR). A visit by Mongabay Indonesia to TSR’s registered address in Central Jakarta found an apparently vacant commercial premise next to a hair salon. A VTM representative declined to comment when reached by phone, while a person contacted via TSR’s phone number denied knowledge of the trafficking but refused to identify themselves. Bambang stated that if elements of intent or negligence meeting criminal criteria are found, the investigation will be escalated and further suspects may be charged.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, the critically endangered Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) is protected under the country’s 1990 conservation law and the 2018 list of protected species. Wildlife conservation nonprofit Geopix has called for the case to remain open until the full network behind the shipment is uncovered. Annisa Rahmawati, wildlife campaigner at Geopix, said, ‘It\u2019s clear that this was not merely an isolated act that can be reduced to charging one person. The challenge facing investigators is to uncover the wider network.’ The seizure follows another significant pangolin trafficking raid earlier in 2026, including a 780-kilogram (1,720-pound) confiscation by the Indonesian Navy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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