South Korean national arrested for smuggling monitor lizards at Soekarno-Hatta Airport

Authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, intercepted an attempt to smuggle eight live monitor lizards to Seoul, South Korea. The animals were discovered hidden inside a suitcase belonging to a 25-year-old South Korean national, identified by the initials JJ, during an X-ray scan at the International Departure Terminal on July 28, 2026.

The seized animals include six green monitor lizards (Varanus prasinus) and two Aru monitor lizards (Varanus beccarii), both of which are protected species. The lizards were found wrapped in cloth bags and concealed among clothing within the luggage.

Following the discovery, JJ was handed over to the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for the Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara regions to undergo legal proceedings. The suspect faces potential charges under Indonesian conservation laws, which carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to 2 billion IDR. Investigators are currently working to identify the source of the animals and determine if other parties were involved in the smuggling operation.