Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A joint team from Soekarno-Hatta Customs and the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (Barantin) successfully foiled lobster seeds smuggling attempt worth Rp5.17 billion (around US$320,000) out of the country.
Authorities arrested four suspects, identified as MR (38), PA (46), SA (36), and DO (26) and seized eight suitcases containing 172 packages of baby lobsters totaling 172,611 specimens.
The bust followed intelligence reports about a suspected illegal export attempt using passenger luggage to transport the lobster seeds. The four suspects were scheduled to fly to Singapore on AirAsia flight QZ-264 on September 23, 2025.
Head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs Gatot Sugeng Wibowo said officers acted swiftly after the bags were loaded onto the aircraft.
“Customs officers offloaded the checked baggage along with the passengers who owned the suitcases after boarding, and brought them in for inspection,” Gatot said Thursday (Oct. 16), as reported by CNN Indonesia.
During inspection, officers discovered 54 packs (52,400 lobsters) of the sand lobster species in PA’s luggage; 32 packs (32,287 lobsters) in MR’s bag; 40 packs (40,000 lobsters) in SA’s suitcase; and 46 packs (47,924 lobsters, including 1,582 pearl lobsters) in DO’s suitcase.
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The suspects confessed they had been instructed by two individuals, identified as A and S, to collect the suitcases from the departure area at Terminal 2 and deliver them to someone in Singapore in exchange for Rp10–15 million each.
Gatot noted that lobster seeds are a restricted export commodity that requires special permits under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Regulation No. 7 of 2024 on the Management of Lobster, Crab, and Blue Swimming Crab. The restrictions are intended to promote domestic lobster farming, increase mature lobster exports, and protect wild populations from overexploitation.
The four suspects face charges under Article 102 of Indonesia’s Customs Law and could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of Rp5 billion (about US$310,000).
(Raidi/Agung)
