Precedent-setting lawsuit seeks accountability and remedies for nature
Legal action against alleged wildlife traffickers
and the companies that support them
08 September 2026, Indonesia – A lawsuit brought by the Indonesian conservation NGO, Science for Endangered and Trafficked Species Foundation (SCENTS), is targeting the people and companies behind an alleged transnational organised wildlife trafficking network to demand accountability and remedies for the harm caused to nature. The case responds to the seizure of more than 3,000 kilograms of dried pangolin scales, which experts estimate represent an astounding 8,532 individual Sunda pangolins – one of the most endangered species on Earth.
The Sunda pangolin is one of the world’s most threatened species, listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Credit: Budak/Flickr Pro
Western Indonesia is a vital remaining habitat for the Sunda pangolin. In February 2025, Customs and Excise officers in the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta launched the latest in a series of raids against international wildlife traffickers. They seized 99 cartons destined for Cambodia, holding 3,053 kilograms of dried pangolin scales, the unusual skin of the scally mammal that is used in traditional medicine. The case, widely covered in the media in Indonesia, is now progressing through a criminal prosecution against the alleged members of the trafficking ring.
The SCENTS lawsuit is a vital, additional legal action – focused not only on punishment, but on remedies, seeking to hold the alleged offenders legally liable for the harm they caused.
Moreover, it seeks accountability not only from the individuals allegedly involved in the illegal value chain – taking action against two Indonesian nationals and one Vietnamese national accused of involvement – but also against three Indonesian corporations alleged to have supported the illegal trade, including an import-export company, a customs clearance service company and a warehouse company.
SCENTS Director, Ma’ruf Erawan, explains:
“What was lost in this case was not merely three tonnes of scales. Behind those scales were thousands of pangolins removed from the wild, together with ecological functions and the values we all hold for Indonesian nature. The people of Indonesia should not pay for that cost. Instead, the offenders must be held accountable for all the harm they caused.”
Indeed, in a recent press release, Indonesia’s Director General of Forestry Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, highlighted that wildlife trafficking is a serious crime that not only threatens the survival of wildlife but also affects the State's interest in preserving Indonesia's biodiversity.
SCENTS, represented by NET Attorney, is now asking the court to order those responsible to fund conservation measures aimed at helping restore the harm they caused. This means measures to help monitor the pangolin population and restore habitat in Western Indonesia, and to educate the public about the profound harm caused by the case. Key to this is ensuring that the case leads to on-the-ground conservation action.
Pangolin Specialist Group Vice Chair for Asia, Kumar Paudel, explains:
“When a species is as threatened as the Sunda pangolin, individual counts towards the survival of the species. The harm caused by removing thousands of animals cannot be underestimated.”
Sunda pangolin (Manis Javanica). Photo Credit: Animalia.bio
Dr Jacob Phelps, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University and Executive Director of Conservation-Litigation.org, which provides technical support to SCENTS, adds
“This type of litigation is legally possible in many countries, but still very unusual in wildlife cases. However, they are gaining traction around the world. This case highlights a fundamental principle: when nature is harmed – whether from illegal wildlife trade, mining, deforestation or pollution – both individual and corporate offenders must be held accountable and provide remedies.”
Download the PDF Press Release here.
Press Contacts:
Jacob Phelps
Senior Lecturer, Lancaster University and Executive Director, Conservation-Litigation.org
jacob.phelps@gmail.com
Ma’ruf Erawan, Director
Science for Endangered and Trafficked Species Foundation (SCENTS)
erawan.uup83@gmail.com