Indonesia arrests four on animal smuggling charges

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http://abc.net.au/ra/newstories/RANewsStories_769725.htm

24/01/2003 19:10:32 | ABC Radio Australia News

Indonesia arrests four on animal smuggling charges

 

Indonesian authorities have arrested three Kuwaiti nationals and a Japanese

man after separate attempts to smuggle rare birds and animals out of the

country.

 

Customs officials arrested the Kuwaitis at Jakarta airport after they failed

to produce quarantine documents for nearly 250 birds or animals.

 

An airport quarantine official says the wildlife, some of which were

protected species, included monkeys, squirrels and birds.

 

He says the animals were in crates that had been giftwrapped, and some of

the animals were already dead from lack of oxygen.

 

Earlier this week, customs officials arrested a Japanese man for smuggling

85 rare animals.

 

All four men are now in police custody.