In March 2026, Mongabay Indonesia reported on the attempted export of more than 3 metric tons of pangolin scales (also published in English) through Jakarta’s Tanjung Priok Port. Customs inspectors had discovered the scales in a shipping container bound for Cambodia in late February, raising questions about the origins of the shipment and the businesses involved.
The coverage examined the company registered as the exporter. When Mongabay visited its listed address, it appeared to be a shopfront and contact numbers recorded in a government database were inactive. These findings raised further questions about the business behind the shipment.
Impact
The findings from the investigation drew an inquiry from the international monitoring organization Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which contacted Mongabay Indonesia investigative editor Asad Asnawi directly to ask about the origins of the seized scales.
EIA specifically wanted to know whether the scales had originated in Africa, a question that remained unresolved as of June 2026.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to confirm that yet,” said Asnawi. “For now, we’re still investigating the origin of such a large quantity of pangolin scales because Indonesian authorities haven’t disclosed that information yet,” he continued. “What is certain is that, based on our investigation, one of the companies involved appears to be a shell company.”
In a September 2026 update, Asnawi reported that law enforcement authorities had identified two suspects: the person who shipped the scales and a Vietnamese national identified as the owner, who had recently been arrested in Kalimantan. He also said that two companies remained under investigation.
The response shows how local reporting can bring information about wildlife trafficking to international organizations seeking to trace its sources.
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Banner image: Lanal Banten (Banten Navy Base) displays hundreds of kilograms of pangolin scales seized from a Vietnamese-flagged vessel. Image courtesy of Lanal Banten.