In a significant move against illegal wildlife trafficking, the Indonesian National Police have arrested four individuals linked to a major ivory smuggling ring. Authorities seized ivory goods valued at approximately US$141,500 during the operation.
During a press conference held in Jakarta, Brigadier General Nunung Syaifuddin, Director of Certain Criminal Offenses at Polri’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), detailed the scale of the seizure. Two of the suspects were caught in possession of eight ivory tusks and 178 smoking pipes, along with two packages of ivory pipes prepared for shipment.
A third suspect was found with 135 ivory smoking pipes, estimated to be worth US$41,500. At the home of a fourth suspect in South Jakarta, police confiscated ivory items worth about US$19,600, including four large statues, 12 small statues, three batons, a lion-carved belt buckle, seven smoking pipes, a stick, and seven bracelets — all suspected to be made from elephant ivory.
“Ivory prices fluctuate significantly depending on demand and rarity,” said Brig. Gen. Syaifuddin. “It’s possible for a single piece of ivory to be worth more than US$61,500 to the right buyer.”
The investigation revealed that one of the suspects, identified as JF, operated four illegal ivory kiosks in Jakarta and sold ivory goods to another suspect, IR. IR, in turn, supplied them to SS, who admitted to exporting ivory smoking pipes to clients in Malaysia and South Korea using social media platforms.
The arrests took place across different regions: two suspects were detained in Sukabumi, West Java, and another in South Jakarta. Stephanus Hanny Rekyanto, head of the West Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA), emphasized that black market valuations don’t reflect the full environmental impact. “The real cost goes far beyond the monetary value,” he said. “We’re talking about long-term harm to elephant populations and irreparable damage to their habitats.”
Under Indonesia’s Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, trafficking in protected species like elephants carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and fines of up to IDR 100 million (around US$6,300). Additional charges may apply under other national laws dealing with organized crime and smuggling.
Despite legal protections, Indonesia remains a key transit point in the global ivory trade, with much of the ivory sourced from poached elephants within Indonesia or smuggled in from neighboring countries. The ongoing demand for ivory in carvings, jewelry, and traditional art fuels this illicit market.
While authorities have not yet confirmed whether the seized ivory originated from elephants poached in Indonesia, investigations are ongoing. The suspects face multiple charges under Indonesia’s environmental and wildlife laws, which impose strict penalties for trafficking protected species and their derivatives.
Since 2021, Indonesian law enforcement has conducted at least nine major ivory trafficking busts, resulting in the arrest of more than 25 individuals and the seizure of large quantities of illegal ivory products. These efforts reflect the government’s commitment to ending wildlife crime, although enforcement remains complex due to transnational smuggling networks and black market demand.
