Indonesia Intercepts Major Lobster Smuggling Operation at Soekarno-Hatta Airport

Multiple Attempts Foiled Through Collaborative Efforts

Indonesian customs authorities successfully prevented three separate attempts to smuggle 98,165 baby lobsters through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport between December 20, 2025, and January 8, 2026. The smuggling operations, targeting Cambodia and Singapore, were detected through close collaboration between customs officials and aviation security personnel.

Modus Operandi Revealed

The smugglers employed a sophisticated concealment method known as 'wet blanket' where the baby lobsters were hidden in blankets soaked with water and sealed in plastic bags containing oxygen and ice packs. This method was used to maintain the viability of the lobsters during transport. The smuggled lobsters totaled 98,165 individuals across three separate incidents: 24,770 on December 20, 29,780 on December 27, and 43,615 on January 8.

Investigation and Legal Consequences

The four suspects identified were FE, DR, UH, and FD, with DR revealing they were paid Rp 5 million for their role. The smuggling attempts violated Article 102A of Law No. 17/2006 concerning Customs, carrying potential penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment and Rp 5 billion fines. The Directorate General of Customs and Excise emphasized their commitment to protecting Indonesia's natural resources through strengthened surveillance and inter-agency cooperation.

Conservation Measures

The seized baby lobsters were either destroyed or released back into the wild following proper procedures. For cases 1 and 2, the lobsters were counted and destroyed at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Animal Quarantine Installation in collaboration with the Banten Province Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Center. The third batch was counted and released at North Jakarta's Ancol Beach in coordination with the same quarantine authority and the PSPL (Center for Marine and Fisheries Conservation).

Official Response

Director General of Customs and Excise, Djaka Budhi Utama, reaffirmed the agency's commitment to preventing illegal exploitation of Indonesia's natural resources. He emphasized that the successful interventions demonstrated the effectiveness of enhanced surveillance and inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding national economic interests and marine biodiversity.