7.4 Tonnes Of Illegal Pangolin Meat Demolished

Bogor, W Java, Dec 10 (ANTARA) - The Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation at the Forestry Ministry has destroyed and buried at least 7.4 tonnes of illegal pangolin meat in the Dramaga Cifor Conservation Forest of Bogor. The Customs department, the Police and the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation managed to foil a plot to smuggle pangolin meat at the Tanjung Priok Port in July 2011. Besides pangolin meat, pangolin scales and salted fish were also destroyed. Pangolin scales and salted fish were used to hide the pangolin meat. The meat, scales and fish were destroyed by the Chief of the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation, Darori. Two Chinese citizens are suspects of this case. "Between 2011 and 2012, the office has destroyed more than 10 tonnes of smuggled pangolin meat," said Darori, on Monday. Darori also said pangolin smuggling is rampant in Indonesia since there is a huge demand from the international market for the meat and the scales.