Tahuna, Ekuatorial – Port Security Unit (PSU) of Tahuna, Sangihe Islands Regency, North Sulawesi foiled the smuggling of 23 Sunda slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) and two Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus). These protected animals to be smuggled from Manado to Philippine.
These endemic animals are smuggled by commercial ships operating in sea route between Indonesia and the Philippine. “We get this information from Quarantine Office of Manado. It is said, there is a boat from Tahuna which brought tens of protected animals,” said the head of PSU of Tahuna, First Police Adjunct Inspector, TB. Parmasi.
The information proved to be correct, these animals found during the search in the ship. Hidden in one of the toilets. Whereas the checks in the port, Quarantine Office of Manado officers did not find them.
“We immediately confiscated them, then we submit to the Police of Sangihe to be prosecuted, “said Pamasi. He said the mastermind of the smuggling has not yet been found, but if traced there is order and shipping destination.
Separately, Deputy chief of Sangihe Resort Police, Commissioner Yusuf Baba said that these animals are now submitted to the Quarantine Office of Tahuna and the legal cases will be processed. Yoseph Ikanubun