Pekanbaru, Riau (Antarariau.com) - The Indonesian Navy in Dumai has handed over 102 pangolins seized from two alleged smugglers in Bengkalis Strait to the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA).
"We have handed over all the pangolins as evidence and the suspects to the Riau BBKSDA that has the authority to continue the legal process," Executive Officer of the Dumai Navy Base Lt Col Saiful Simanjuntak informed Antara here, Wednesday.
The pangolins, identified as protected species under Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999, were seized at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday during a raid to foil the attempt to smuggle the endangered species.
The Navy conducted the raid after receiving a tip-off on the movement of a suspicious vessel in the Bengkalis Strait.
The vessel, operated by the two suspects aged between 22 and 25, had allegedly carried pangolins to be smuggled into Malaysia.
"They would smuggle the species through the sea route, and the navy has been waiting for them there," he said.
The Navy Base in Dumai has reported the arrest to the BBKSDA in the city shortly after the incident, and all pangolins have arrived at the Riau BBKSDA office in Pekanbaru on early Wednesday.
Eduwar Hutapea, a legal officer of BBKSDA, said the agency will investigate the case further.
"Both suspects will face a maximum sentence of five years in jail and a fine of Rp100 million under Law No. 5 of 1990 on the conservation of natural resources and its ecosystem," Hutapea remarked.
The arrest was the second of its kind to be made in Riau after the one carried out on Oct 10 in which the Dumai customs officers seized 100 pangolins and handed them over to the BBKSDA Riau.