Customs officers at Jakarta International Airport nabbed four suspects who were attempting to smuggle 189 pangolin skins and 248 hornbill casques out of the country.
Four Chinese nationals identified as Li Bing, Wu Qiyi, Zhijian Li and Yin Zhaoyun were arrested, thanks to a tip-off. A search revealed that the skins and casques were hidden in their luggage. Indopos.com reports they were about to board China Airlines flight CI-678 to Hong Kong. The incident occurred during the first week of January 2013.
If convicted, the suspects face a maximum prison term of ten years and fines of up to IDR $5 billion (US $518,940), according to TRAFFIC Southeast Asia.
Pangolin skins and hornbill casques are unfortunately both prized in traditional medicines, although the effectiveness is unproven. Hornbill casques are also carved into decorative trinkets. Both species are believed to be in decline, due to a combination of illegal trade and deforestation.
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Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.