Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Customs officials in North Sumatra have intercepted a smuggling attempt of 1,519 horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus gigas) which is a protected marine species in Indonesia en route to Malaysia.
The operation, led by Teluk Nibung Customs and the Tanjung Balai Asahan Quarantine Office, took place at Teluk Nibung Port in Tanjungbalai.
“Thousands of horseshoe crabs were about to be smuggled to Malaysia through Teluk Nibung Port,” said Teluk Nibung Customs Chief Nurhasan Ashari, as quoted by state news agency Antara on May 30.
The seizure followed a tip-off about the illegal transport of protected wildlife in the port area. Customs and quarantine officers responded on May 29, launching a coordinated inspection at a temporary storage warehouse.
Investigators discovered 1,519 live horseshoe crabs concealed among export cargo, alongside 37.8 kilograms of mussels, 17 kilograms of tiger snails, 20 kilograms of clam meat, and four kilograms of a local fish species known as ikan cincaro, all packed into 10 insulated fiber boxes.
Nurhasan said the smugglers attempted to disguise the protected animals within a legitimate shipment by entrusting them to a cargo vessel bound for export.
The seized items were transported to the Teluk Nibung Customs Office for documentation before being handed over to the Tanjung Balai Asahan Quarantine Center for further investigation.
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This marks the second major horseshoe crabs smuggling attempt thwarted in 2025. In a separate incident earlier this year, authorities intercepted 1,400 crabs that were also destined for Malaysia.
Horseshoe crabs are not only consumed in some regions but are also highly valued in biomedical and environmental research. Their blue blood contains a compound used to detect bacterial contamination in medical applications, including tests for meningitis and gonorrhea, widely used in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and parts of the Middle East.
However, the species is protected under Indonesia’s Law No. 32 of 2024 on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation, making it illegal to harvest or trade them without proper authorization.
Customs officials stressed the importance of public cooperation in combating wildlife trafficking including the smuggling of Horseshoe crabs. “We appreciate the community members who reported the smuggling attempt at Teluk Nibung Port,” Nurhasan said.
(Raidi/Agung)
