Indonesia has most wildlife crime in Southeast Asia

Indonesia is home to the most wildlife crime involving illegally traded endangered species in Southeast Asia, in both the domestic and export markets, according to the National Police's director for specific crimes, Brig. Gen. Yazid Fanani.

“In Southeast Asia, [Indonesia] is number one as it’s a huge country,” Yazid said in Jakarta on Saturday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Yazid said that wildlife crime was part of transnational crime and that the illegal trading of endangered species was increasingly being conducted on the Internet. “So far, online trading [of endangered species] is increasing as the number of Internet users is also greater,” said Yazid. He added that his team was collaborating with the police’s cybercrime unit to conduct online surveillance.

“We conduct [online] patrolling along with the cybercrime unit. We encourage people to participate in keeping watch. We want to educate people that trading in endangered species is regulated by law,” said Yazid.

The police also cooperate with foreign embassies and environment-related organizations to prevent the export of endangered species, as well as working with Interpol and police from other countries to hunt for the culprits of illegal wildlife trading and the buyers of threatened Indonesian animals that are exported overseas.

According to Yazid, the police had uncovered 23 wildlife crime cases, in which the majority of trading was conducted online.