REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TANGERANG -- The Agriculture Ministry's Quarantine Agency of Cilegon, Banten, has destroyed 1,463 kilograms of smuggled swine meat in Cilegon on Wednesday, according to Banun Harpini, head of the agency.

Banun said during a press conference at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, that the smuggled goods were seized on Monday (June 9) at 5 p.m. local time.

"This is the fifth case of smuggling intercepted by the Quarantine Agency of Cilegon, in cooperation with the police, during 2014. The total amount of smuggled goods seized is 4,216 kilograms," Banun noted.

The raid at Merak Port on Monday was conducted by authorities following a tip from locals. The smuggled goods were found without quarantine release certificates, including 1,463 kilograms of swine meat, 96 kilograms of chicken feathers, and 876 kilograms of dried frangipani flowers.

According to the investigation, the smugglers were on their way to distribute the swine meat by bus from Lahat and Lubuk Lingau, South Sumatera, to Agus under the name of Baresman Nababan, who resides in Cikokol, Tangerang.

The chicken feathers were carried from Medan, North Sumatera, to be transported to Cirebon, West Java, and the dried frangipani flowers came from Medan to be sent to Solo, Central Java.

The bus, with license plate BL 7896 A, was driven by individuals identified by their initials, RES and RS. They were helped by PP and MI.

"Both the owners and the transporters could be sued under Article 31 Law Number 16/1992 on the Quarantine of Animal, Fish and Plants and may serve a maximum of three years of imprisonment and receive a fine of up to Rp150 million," said Banun.

At present, the evidence and the suspects are being held by the Quarantine Agency of Cilegon.

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