Bandarlampung, Ekuatorial – Lampung officials caught red-handed an ivory collector in the middle of transaction on Monday (13/11), in Metro city, Lampung.
From the suspect, Nawa Angkasa, investigators comprise of Lampung Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Rhino Protection Unit (RPU), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Way Kambas National Park, confiscated five units of ivory, each sized 50 centimeter. In addition, 20 centimeters of ivory turned into dragon head craved cigar.
“We managed to foil the transaction at a restaurant in Metro,” said Subakir, head of Lampung BKSDA adding the case was handled by the police.
Lampung Police Special Crime Director, Mashudi, said that Angkasa marketed those items at social media. “Someone was interested for his collection and agreed to pay Rp390 million (US$ 32,000),” said Mashudi.
Furthermore, he said that Nawa was a lecturer of Metro Islamic University or STAIN and had a background in law from Yogyakarta’s Gajah Mada University.
“The suspect know around the law so investigators are having difficulties to reveal the network,” he said citing that suspect was not willing to answer questions knowing that it will affect his legal status.
Nevertheless, Mashudi said that the suspect might be involved with the death of elephant at Way Kambas National Park, a year ago. The elephant was found with chopped head and missing tusks.
Dwi Nugroho, coordinator Wildlife Crime Unit, criticized on the half-hearted investigation. “Of course, it’s difficult because they’re just doing it from the office meanwhile it’s very clear where these items come and go in Lampung,” said Nugroho adding that WCU had foiled ivory trade since 2003.
“Their mode of operation is that they will contact other hunters to prepare equipment such as fire guns, nets, even poisons,” he added. From there, he said, they will deliver the items to collectors who were coming from Pesisir Krui, Liwa, Tanggamus, Way Kambas, and Bandarlampung districts. “Most of them are craftsmen. They would sold ivory pipes to public and memers of parliament,” he said. “If law enforcement are serious about this case, it would not be that hard to track them. We cannot imagine how many elephants must died or threatened because of these ‘above the law’ hunters.
He said that 70 percent of these ivory sent outside Lampung in a form of ready to wear, mainly to Rawa Bening market in Jakarta, and other areas, including Surabaya, Yogyakarta and West Java. Eni Muslihah.