NTT quarantine seizes 1.23 tonnes of uncertified shark meat in Kupang

Kupang — The East Nusa Tenggara Animal, Fish and Plant Quarantine Office has detained 1,230 kilograms of shark meat at Tenau Port in Kupang after officials found the shipment was not accompanied by a quarantine certificate, according to the quarantine agency and local media reports.

The meat, packed in 13 packages, was secured at Tenau Port on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, during loading for shipment to Lombok aboard the passenger and cargo vessel KM Dharma Kartika 5.

Port security officers at Tenau first spotted the packages near the ship’s entrance during loading operations, then coordinated with the national quarantine authority through the East Nusa Tenggara quarantine office for further checks.

Quarantine action and coordination

The East Nusa Tenggara office is a regional unit of the Indonesian Quarantine Agency, known as Barantin, which oversees quarantine controls on animal, fish and plant products entering and leaving the province.

Following the inspection, quarantine officials detained the shark meat and began coordinating with the Kupang Marine Management Office under the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries and with the Kupang station of the Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance Agency (PSDKP).

Officials said the cooperation aims to identify the shark species involved and determine whether the commodity is subject to specific conservation or distribution rules, in addition to the basic requirement for quarantine documentation.

Species and legal status under review

Apriana Santi Soeroso, head of the quarantine law enforcement team in East Nusa Tenggara, said initial information from the Kupang Marine Management Office indicated the product fell into a category where circulation is restricted and requires closer scrutiny.

She said the detained shark meat would be handed over to the PSDKP station in Kupang for identification and handling under applicable fisheries and conservation regulations.

Quarantine officials and local media reports stated that, as of mid-week, authorities had not yet confirmed the shark species, and it remained unclear whether the meat originated from a protected species. The outcome will depend on the identification and subsequent legal assessment by the competent agencies.

Call for compliance with documentation rules

The quarantine office’s chief, Simon Soli, urged individuals and businesses transporting animal, fish or plant products to ensure they obtain and carry the required quarantine documentation before shipping.

He said close coordination among quarantine officers, marine management officials and fisheries surveillance agencies is needed to keep legitimate trade moving while supporting efforts to conserve marine resources and enforce restrictions on sensitive commodities.

Shipment details

The authorities provided the following information about the detained consignment:

• Quantity: 1,230 kilograms of shark meat
• Packaging: 13 packages
• Route: Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara) to Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara)
• Vessel: KM Dharma Kartika 5
• Status: Detained at Tenau Port pending species identification and further handling

Next steps

Authorities have not publicly identified the shipper, the intended recipient in Lombok or the precise origin of the catch.

Quarantine and fisheries officials have also not announced what final action will be taken on the shipment, which could include release if documentation and species status are found to be compliant, or other measures if violations are confirmed.

Further decisions are expected after PSDKP Kupang completes the identification process and reports its findings to the relevant national and provincial agencies.

Sources

• Lingkar TV
• Badan Karantina Indonesia – Nusa Tenggara Timur section
• Ground News / JPNN.com aggregation