Indonesia Receives Two UNEP Awards for Excellence in Environmental Law Enforcement
Indonesia has been honored with two prestigious awards from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in recognition of its achievements in combating transboundary environmental crimes through effective law enforcement efforts.
Deputy for Pollution Control and Environmental Damage at the Ministry of Environment, Rasio Ridho Sani, announced that the awards were presented under the Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEEE) 2024, acknowledging the outstanding performance of the Directorate General of Law Enforcement during the 2023–2024 period.
According to Sani, the awards represent international recognition of the dedication and hard work of environmental law enforcement officers and partner institutions committed to safeguarding Indonesia’s natural resources and ecosystems.
Recognition for Successful Multi-Agency Collaboration
Indonesia received its first award in the Collaboration category for the successful handling of the oil pollution case involving the supertanker MT Arman 114 between 2023 and 2024.
The operation was carried out through close cooperation among several government agencies, including the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), the Riau Islands High Prosecutor’s Office, the Batam District Prosecutor’s Office, and the Batam Immigration Office.
As a result of the coordinated legal action, the captain of MT Arman 114 was convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison, along with a fine of Rp5 billion (approximately US$292,000).
In addition, the vessel and its cargo of 166,975.63 metric tons of crude oil were confiscated by the state. The ruling is considered one of the most significant environmental law enforcement decisions in Indonesia’s maritime history.
Ujung Kulon Rhino Protection Operation Earns International Recognition
Indonesia’s second award was granted in the Impact category, recognizing the achievements of the Ujung Kulon National Park Operations Task Force in dismantling a major wildlife crime network targeting the critically endangered Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus).
The task force consisted of personnel from the Directorate General of Law Enforcement, the Ujung Kulon National Park Authority, and the Banten Regional Police.
The operation successfully uncovered a large-scale poaching and illegal wildlife trade network operating within and around Ujung Kulon National Park, the last remaining habitat of the Javan rhinoceros.
According to Sani, law enforcement officers arrested nine individuals, including seven poachers and two rhinoceros horn buyers. Authorities also confiscated 390 homemade weapons believed to have been used in illegal hunting activities.
Landmark Sentences for Wildlife Crime
The court imposed some of the harshest penalties ever handed down for wildlife crimes in Indonesia.
The convicted poachers received prison sentences averaging between 11 and 12 years, while the buyers were sentenced to between one and four years in prison.
Investigators also uncovered a secondary illegal wildlife trafficking network involving eight rhinoceros horns in Palembang, South Sumatra. Individuals connected to that case were sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
International Recognition for Environmental Enforcement Excellence
The Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEEE) awards are organized by UNEP in partnership with international organizations, including INTERPOL, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The awards recognize outstanding achievements in addressing complex environmental crimes, particularly cases involving transnational networks and cross-border impacts.
Indonesia’s recognition in both the Collaboration and Impact categories highlights the country’s growing role in environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and the enforcement of laws against environmental and natural resource crimes.
