Two suspected tiger skin collectors were arrested by a joint team from BPPH-LHK Sumatra Region-Riau Regional Section and Jambi BKSDA in Sencalang Village, Batang Gangsal District, Indragiri Hulu, Riau on September 29, 2016. Officers secured two suspects Ahyar and Yanto with one piece of tiger skin complete with bones as evidence which was then brought to Pekanbaru for further investigation.

Both suspects are now being investigated by PPNS from BPPH (Center for Security and Law Enforcement (BPPH) Sumatra Region section Riau region. From the suspect's statement, Ahyar, a resident of Sencalang Village, told officers that he was only an intermediary to sell the tiger skin and did not know who trapped the tiger. He said the tiger came from Concong Village, in Indragiri Hilir Regency. He and suspect Yanto, a resident of Pemayungan Village, Batang Sumay Sub-district, Muaro Tebo-Jambi District, acted as middlemen to sell the tiger skin to buyers in Jakarta.

The operation went smoothly after the team followed up on information about the existence of tiger skin evidence. The team then negotiated to meet the two suspects through an intermediary. The team then met the two suspects in Sencalang Village carrying one tiger skin and bones stored in a sack. The two were unable to offer any significant resistance due to the team's readiness. Meanwhile, the middleman managed to escape.

Head of BPPH-Edward Aritonang said his office is still investigating the case and trying to unravel the case. Meanwhile, the Wildlife Crime Team of WWF Central Sumatra Program as a partner of BPPH highly appreciates this success and is ready to encourage investigation efforts until this case can be brought to trial.

This is the second case of tiger skin trade in Riau, after two tiger skin collectors were arrested by a joint team in Kuantan Mudik District, Kuantan Singingi Riau in April. The two perpetrators were finally tried in Taluk Kuantan-Kuantan Singingi and sentenced to 4 years in prison by the judges of the District Court -Rengat on September 8, 2016. This is the highest sentence for wildlife crime in Riau over the past 10 years.