Indonesian Customs Seizes Rp 12.9 Billion of Illegal Pangolin Scales

Customs officers at the Tanjungpinang office intercepted eight cartons containing pangolin (tenggiling) scales with a gross weight of 216 kg at the Roro Port of Tanjung Uban on 16 July 2026. The shipment arrived without the required customs documentation, prompting the officers to investigate. In coordination with the Regional Conservation Centre of Natural Resources (BBKSDA) in Riau and the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Sumatra, the material was identified as pangolin scales and valued at approximately Rp 12.9 billion.

The seized items were transferred to the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for further handling. Pangolins are listed as a protected, critically endangered species under Indonesia’s Law No 5/1990 and international conventions, making the illegal trade of their parts a punishable offense. Customs chief Joko Pri Sukmono Dwi Widodo emphasized the agency’s commitment to cooperate with related bodies to curb wildlife trafficking and protect Indonesia’s natural resources.