VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Finance Ministry's directorate general of customs and excise (DJBC) thwarted an attempt to illegally export 42,500 lobster seeds from the Batu Ampar Port in Batam and took into arrest three suspects.

The arrest was made in coordination with the Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency (BKIPM-KHP) and Batam Port Authority.

Director for International Customs Affairs Syarif Hidayat noted in a statement here on Monday that the three suspects departed from Jakarta aboard a Kelud motor vessel on Friday (Dec 4).

"Customs officials received information on the plan to export lobster seeds illegally to Vietnam via Batam and Singapore," Hidayat remarked.

The authority found three sacks of clothing mixed with 157 plastic bags containing lobster seeds. Three suspects, identified by their initials as PB, DM, and AS, were arrested. The officials also seized 41,500 sand lobster seeds and one thousand pearl lobster seeds.

"The evidence and three suspects have been held at the Batam BKIPM-KHP office for further investigation," he remarked.

Hidayat made assurance of continued crackdown on lobster smuggling to preserve Indonesia's natural wealth. The office will also step up its coordination with ministries and institutions and security officers to intensify monitoring against lobster smuggling. (Antaranews)