Inp.polri.go.id - Batam.  The Batam Customs Office has foiled an attempt to smuggle 321,990 lobster seeds through Hang Nadim Airport. The seeds were allegedly intended for illegal export to Vietnam via Singapore.

The smuggling operation was carried out by a 26-year-old suspect identified as Y, using Garuda Indonesia cargo flight GA152 from Jakarta to Batam. Customs officers intercepted the illicit cargo in two separate seizures on Friday  at 11.25 am and 6.21 pm local time.

“The shipment was declared as garments under a Free Trade Zone document but turned out to be lobster seeds,” said Head of Batam Customs Zaky Firmansyah on Sunday (4/5/2025).

The first batch contained 158,790 BBL, including 157,749 sand lobsters and 1,041 pearl lobsters, with an estimated state loss of Rp23.8 billion. A second inspection revealed another 163,200 BBL, pushing the total potential state loss to Rp 48.3 billion.

The case has been handed over to the Riau Islands Police for further investigation, including tracing the origin of the seeds. All 321,990 BBL were released back into the waters of Pulau Galang, Batam, on Saturday.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)