Jakarta, Dec. 13 -- Indonesian authorities successfully stopped the smuggling of 32 live reptiles at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Banten.

An Egyptian national was arrested for attempting to transport the animals, which included several protected species, without legal documents.

The individual, identified as AAEA, was intercepted with the animals hidden in his checked luggage, which was bound for Jeddah.

Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara, Aswin Bangun, confirmed that international airports are critical points for illegal wildlife trade.

"Any attempt to bring protected animals into or out of Indonesia without proper documents will be prosecuted as a criminal offense, without except...