Indonesia arrests two Vietnamese nationals for smuggling 3,400 birds

Two Vietnamese nationals, identified as LVT and LM, have been arrested in East Java, Indonesia, for allegedly smuggling nearly 3,400 birds from Vietnam. The suspects were apprehended during a raid on a warehouse in Kepatihan village, Sidoarjo Regency.

According to Setyo Kusheriatno of the Indonesian National Police, the individuals were acting under the direction of another Vietnamese citizen, ALY. Their responsibilities included guarding the warehouse, monitoring the birds, and managing their care. The seized shipment included 3,394 birds—3,233 of which were alive and 161 of which had died—comprising common species such as thrushes, bulbuls, and starlings.

The birds were reportedly brought into the country without required quarantine certificates or through official checkpoints. The estimated market value of the shipment ranges between 4.8 billion and 9.6 billion Rupiah. The suspects face charges under the 2019 Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Law, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 10 billion Rupiah.