Indonesian authorities have arrested six individuals suspected of being involved in the illegal smuggling of endangered Komodo dragons, native to the country, with the reptiles allegedly destined for Thailand.
Police said two suspects were detained in February in the port city of Surabaya, East Java, after disembarking from a ship carrying three live Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizard species. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of four more individuals in the following weeks.
According to investigators, the animals were sourced from suppliers or hunters in East Nusa Tenggara province, the only region where Komodo dragons naturally exist across a handful of islands.
Authorities allege the suspects purchased each Komodo dragon for around 5.5 million rupiah (approximately US$320) and later resold them at significantly higher prices, with the animals believed to be intended for buyers in Thailand.
East Java police said at least 20 Komodo dragons have been trafficked since January last year, generating an estimated profit of around US$33,000 for the syndicate. The suspects now face charges that carry penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment and fines.
The Komodo dragon is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with an estimated global population of about 3,400, found mainly in Komodo National Park and parts of Flores island. The species is threatened by habitat loss, human activity, and climate change, while illegal wildlife trade continues to pose a serious risk.
In a separate operation, police also arrested two other suspects for smuggling 140 kilogrammes of pangolin scales from Riau to Surabaya, highlighting ongoing wildlife trafficking concerns in the region.
