Forestry Ministry names three suspects in Mimika wildlife trade case

Timika — — Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry has named three people as suspects in a wildlife trade investigation in Mimika, Central Papua, after officers seized ten protected birds offered for sale via social media on 3 September 2026, according to an official ministry release and local media reports.

The ministry’s Maluku and Papua law-enforcement office (Balai Penegakan Hukum Kehutanan Wilayah Maluku dan Papua) identified the suspects by their initials as VR, YN and RS, head of the office Fredrik Engelbert Tumbel said in a statement dated 13 September. The suspect designations followed a case conference held on 11 September 2026.

According to the ministry, its cyber patrol team first detected alleged transactions involving protected birds promoted openly on the social-media platform Facebook. Investigators then carried out searches at two locations in Mimika, including the home of a person identified as DP and the home of RS.

The ministry said officers seized ten birds in total.

• Seven black-headed lories (Lorius lory) from the first location.
• One black-headed lory from the second location.
• One dusky parrot (Pseudeos fuscata) from the second location.
• One yellow-streaked lory, also known as Aru lory (Chalcopsitta scintillata), from the second location.

Based on witness statements and other evidence, investigators concluded that VR, described as DP’s husband, and YN were allegedly involved in the first case, while RS was named a suspect in the second, the ministry said. All three are accused of offences related to the trade in protected wildlife.

Protected birds moved to conservation agency

All ten birds have been placed temporarily with the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency’s Timika unit, known as BBKSDA Papua Seksi Wilayah II Timika, pending further handling, according to the ministry and Papua-based media.

The ministry stated that this is the second case disclosed in the working area of its Section III Jayapura involving alleged wildlife trading via social media. Officials said the growing use of digital platforms for wildlife trafficking is complicating enforcement and emphasised that cyber patrols and physical inspections will continue in Papua and other regions.

Legal provisions and potential penalties

The Forestry Ministry said VR and YN are suspected of violating Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a and/or Article 40A paragraph (1) letter h in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter g of Law No. 32 of 2024, which amended Law No. 5 of 1990 on Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems. RS is suspected of breaching Article 40A paragraph (1) letter d in conjunction with Article 21 paragraph (2) letter a of the same law.

In similar wildlife trade cases handled by the same enforcement office, those provisions carry potential prison terms of three to fifteen years and fines ranging from 200 million to 5 billion rupiah, according to ministry statements and national media reports on earlier prosecutions. The ministry did not specify the exact penalties sought in the Mimika case.

Context and enforcement efforts

The Mimika operation comes amid a series of recent actions against online wildlife trade in Papua, including a July 2026 case in Jayapura where a suspect identified as MH was arrested after allegedly offering seven protected birds for sale on Facebook. In that case, authorities said they would pursue maximum sanctions to deter similar offences.

Officials have described Papua’s endemic bird species, including lories and parrots, as particularly vulnerable to trafficking for the pet trade, and have urged the public not to buy protected wildlife and to report suspicious online advertisements to authorities.

Sources

• Papua60detik – Dagang Satwa Papua di Medsos, Tiga Orang Ditetapkan Tersangka
• Indonesian Forestry Ministry press release on Mimika wildlife trade case (Balai Gakkum Kehutanan Wilayah Maluku dan Papua)
• Media Indonesia – Jual Burung Langka di Facebook, Pria di Jayapura Ditangkap
• Gardaanimalia – Petugas Gabungan Sita 72 Satwa Dilindungi di Mimika
• Detikcom – Kasus Perdagangan Satwa di Papua Berhasil Digagalkan, 7 Burung Langka Disita