Joniansyah, Tangerang – The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police thwarted an attempt to smuggle 171,880 lobster seed through the international airport to Batam. The lobster seed was intended to be sent to Vietnam.
Police arrested and detained seven suspects involved in the disclosure of the illegal shipment of lobster seed worth Rp9.2 billion. "The role of the suspects in this case includes bypassing goods, packaging, arranging air cargo documents, and coordinating with certain parties to smuggle lobster seed," said Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police Chief Commissioner, Ronald Sipayung, on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
Two suspects in the lobster seed smuggling, including RK and JS, are security officers at the cargo warehouse of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. According to Ronald, RK and JS helped bypass the lobster seed package that was to be shipped from the x-ray machine inspection. "Three lobsters seed boxes had already passed through the X-Ray and were about to be taken into the aircraft," said Ronald.
The other five suspects are AHA, DS, RS, WW, and HN, who were involved in packaging, preparing air cargo documents, and transporting lobster seed from Sukabumi to the cargo warehouse of Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Ronald mentioned that RK received a reward of Rp4 million per suitcase. Four suitcases had passed, so the cargo security officers received a reward of Rp16 million. Meanwhile, JK received Rp2 million per suitcase, and the other suspects received Rp1 million each.
According to the Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Soekarno Hatta Airport Police, Commissioner Yandri Mono, the lobster seed shipment began when the police received a report of alleged illegal lobster seed shipment through Bangun Desa Logistindo (BDL) Warehouse located in the cargo area of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Saturday, May 31, 2025.
After checking, Yandri stated, four lobster seed boxes were found in the area of Bangun Desa Logistindo Warehouse, which were to be sent to Batam, Riau Islands, using Batik Air (ID 6864) flight from Jakarta (CGK) to Batam (BTH). "Upon inspection by the officers, three boxes contained lobster seed, while one box contained empty cardboard boxes," said Yandri.
According to Yandri, the lobster seed packages were packed in plastic bags filled with oxygen, then put into suitcases. "Those suitcases were then repacked using cardboard and cloth to be sent abroad through the Cargo Terminal of Soekarno-Hatta Airport," said Yandri.
After receiving information about the lobster seed shipment through the international airport, the Criminal Investigation Unit team of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police conducted an expansion and arrested seven suspects. Yandri stated that the suspects are allegedly involved in violating the animal, fish, and plant quarantine criminal act as referred to in Article 92 Jo Article 26 Paragraph (1) of the Republic of Indonesia Law number 6 of 2023.