JAMBI | INDATANEWS.COM - The Jambi City Police (Polresta Jambi) have successfully thwarted an illegal shipment of 47,872 glass lobster larvae (Benih Bening Lobster/BBL), valued at approximately Rp7.18 billion, on the Trans-Sumatra Highway near the gateway connecting Jambi City and Muaro Jambi Regency in Danau Teluk District. Two suspects, identified by their initials OM and AS from Banten Province, were arrested in the operation.
Kapolresta Jambi Chief Commissioner Boy Sutan Binanga Siregar stated that the operation was initiated following a public tip-off, which led officers to monitor a suspected trafficking route before intercepting the vehicle carrying the illegal consignment.
"This smuggling attempt has caused potential state losses of around Rp7.1 billion. Investigations are still ongoing," Boy said during a press conference at the Polresta Jambi Headquarters on Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
Public Tip-Off Leads to Swift Police ActionHead of Criminal Investigation Unit (Kasat Reskrim) AKP Husni Abda explained that authorities received community information on Monday, June 1, 2026, at around 10:00 p.m. Following an initial assessment, a police team was deployed to the suspected transit area.
Officers later stopped a white minibus and conducted a thorough inspection, discovering 10 styrofoam boxes containing a total of 47,872 live lobster larvae.
STATE LOSSES PREVENTED: Polresta Jambi Chief Commissioner Boy Sutan Binanga Siregar explains the exposure of a multi-billion-rupiah smuggling case. (PHOTO: Dalil Harahap)
Fake License Plates Used to Evade Detection
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects used falsified license plates to disguise the vehicle's movement across multiple provinces. Authorities also seized four different fake number plates from the vehicle.
"The shipment originated from Banten, passed through Lampung, and was intended to be unloaded in Pekanbaru, Riau," Husni added.
In addition to the lobster larvae, police confiscated the vehicle, 10 styrofoam boxes, four fake license plates, and a mobile phone as evidence.
Legal Proceedings Under Fisheries Law
The seized 47,872 lobster larvae are estimated to be worth around Rp7.1808 billion. Both suspects are currently under further investigation.
They are being charged under Article 92 in conjunction with Article 26 paragraph (1) of Indonesia's Fisheries Law No. 31 of 2024, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison and a fine of up to Rp1.5 billion. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Dalil Harahap | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala