Over 50 pieces of stuffed endangered species (full body or
derivative) confiscated by investigators of Law Enforcement Directorate General
at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) from February to March 2016.
The stuffed animals consist of, among others, Leopard cats, Sun bears, Tigers,
various birds, etc.
Scorpion Investigator visited the Ministry of Environment and Forestry on Wednesday (16 March 2016) and met with two key officers, Mr. Rasio Ridho Sani (Director General of Law Enforcement), and Muhammad Yunus (Director of Law Enforcement) but both could not give details about the confiscated animals.
“Our investigators who handle the cases are still out of Jakarta. So, we cannot give you the details of the confiscated animals right now,” Rido Sani told Scorpion Investigator.
Meanwhile the Director of Law Enforcement, Mr. Muhammad Yunus allowed Scorpion Investigator to watch the confiscated animals through glass wall but did not allow to go inside. “These stuffed animals are still under investigation. So, you cannot go inside yet,” he said.
Mr. Muhammad Yunus avoided mentioning the number of the confiscated stuffed animals without presence of his investigators but Scorpion Investigator estimated there were over 50 pieces of stuffed animals or parts of animals in the room where they were stored. Some body parts of the animals were also packed in plastic bags.
