Jakarta, July 24 -- Indonesia's Forestry Ministry is proceeding with the prosecution of an illegal wildlife trader in Central Java, marking a key breakthrough in an expanding investigation into an international pangolin smuggling syndicate.

The suspect, identified by the initials EO, was caught red-handed during a ministry operation with three live Javan pangolins (Manis javanica) and 20 kilograms of scales from the protected species.

Formal charges have now been handed over to public prosecutors as investigators work to dismantle the larger criminal network behind the trade.

Aswin Bangun, Head of the Forestry Law Enforcement Agency for Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, said in his statement on Friday that EO's arrest in Semarang stems fro...