Delivery of Hundreds of Kilograms of Unlicensed Wild Boar Meat Thwarted in Lampung

Bakauheni Port is the main access for wildlife trade from Sumatra to Java.

DOKUMENTASI BALAI KARANTINA LAMPUNG

The Lampung quarantine officer shows the condition of the wild boar meat that was sent without official documents through the Bakauheni Port in South Lampung, Lampung on Friday (26/4/2024) afternoon.

LAMPUNG SELATAN, KOMPAS - The Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center detained 390 kilograms of boar meat or pork from Bengkulu which was to be sent to Bekasi, West Java, via Bakauheni Harbor, Lampung. This was done because the meat was not accompanied by shipping requirements documents.

Head of the Bakauheni Port Service Unit, Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center Akhir Santoso, Saturday (27/4/2024), said that hundreds of kilograms of wild boar meat were sent by iron truck , Friday (26/4/2024). To trick the officers, the perpetrator covered the wild boar meat in the trunk of the truck by wrapping it in a sack covered with cardboard.

The disclosure began when officers received a report from the community about the transport of wild boar meat through the Bakauheni Crossing Port. Patrol officers immediately followed up on the report by thoroughly checking every vehicle passing through the Sumatra highway or toll road that intended to cross to Java Island.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

Pork is sold at the Wilken Faith Market, Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Tuesday (25/7/2023).

The pork was then seized because it was not accompanied by shipping documents, such as a veterinary certificate issued by the authorities in the original district. Additionally, it was not accompanied by laboratory test results showing freedom from foot-and-mouth disease (PMK) and African swine fever (ASF).

Currently, the truck driver has been questioned. His party has also coordinated with the police for further investigation.

Meat that is uncertified cannot guarantee its safety. In addition, the delivery process must also use transportation that meets the standards.

Head of the Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center, Donni Muksydayan, explained that sending illegal wild boar meat violates the quarantine regulations contained in Law Number 21 of 2019. Apart from that, the meat also does not meet transportation standards because it is appropriate, such as using cold storage to prevent spoilage.

"Meat that is not certified cannot guarantee its healthiness. In addition, the shipping process must also use transportation that meets the standards," added Donni.

According to him, Lampung quarantine officers have indeed tightened traffic control at Bakauheni Port to prevent the practice of sending illegal animals, meat or seeds. Apart from that, detention is also carried out to anticipate misuse of pork and prevent the circulation of meat that is not suitable for consumption.

Also read: Officers Failed Delivery of 60 Unlicensed Turtles in Lampung

DOKUMENTASI BALAI KARANTINA HEWAN, IKAN, DAN TUMBUHAN LAMPUNG

The Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center thwarted the delivery of 60 unlicensed turtles, Sunday (21/4/2024).

Prone

This is not the first time that illegal sending of animal commodities through Bakauheni Port has happened. Previously, Sunday (21/4/2024), the Lampung Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Center also thwarted the delivery of 60 Ambonese turtles (Cuora amboinensis) at the seaport of Bakauheni Harbor . The turtles were packed in two separate boxes and entrusted to the inter-city bus between provinces. According to the plan, the turtles originating from Central Lampung were to be sent to Malang, East Java.

On March 5, 2024, officials also foiled the shipment of hundreds of shark fins from Medan that were going to be sent to Java. A total of 180 shark fins, weighing up to 20 kilograms, were also packaged in the shipment.

Donni stated that Bakauheni Port has indeed become the main route for the trade of wild animals from Sumatra. So far, the most commonly traded species are wild birds. In addition, there are also orangutans, monkeys, civets, shark fins, and pangolins.

Based on data from the Lampung Animal, Fish, and Plant Quarantine Office, from January to September 2023, as many as 14,886 birds were seized by quarantine officers at Bakauheni Port. These tens of thousands of wild birds were intended to be illegally traded from Sumatra to Java.

Meanwhile, Head of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, Sahat M Panggabean, has asked officials to continue to work together and collaborate with other agencies to monitor the traffic of agricultural and fishery commodities. This is because the Indonesian Quarantine Agency has the task of closely monitoring inter-regional animal traffic to prevent the spread of various diseases in animals and plants, as well as ensuring the quality of the meat circulating in the community.

Also read: Unauthorized Delivery of Hundreds of Shark Fins Thwarted