Jakarta, Aug. 16 -- The Ministry of Forestry has foiled an attempt to smuggle eight endemic monitor lizards out of Indonesia through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

Officers apprehended a South Korean national, identified by his initials JJ, after discovering live reptiles concealed in his luggage prior to an international flight on July 28.

"We will continue to strengthen synergy at the exit points, including information exchange and early detection of smuggling methods," Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara Aswin Bangun said in Jakarta on Sunday.

"Investigators are also continuing to investigate the origin of the animals and the parties involved," he added.

A joint f...