Ecobiz.asia — Indonesia’s Directorate General of Environmental and Forestry Law Enforcement (Gakkum LHK) has received two awards at the Asia Environmental Enforcement Recognition of Excellence (AEERE) 2024–2025, recognizing its cross-border environmental law enforcement efforts over the past year.
The virtual award ceremony was hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Asia Pacific Office in Bangkok on Friday (Oct 17, 2025). The awards were received by Rasio Ridho Sani, Director General of Gakkum LHK from 2015 to 2025, who now serves as Deputy for Pollution and Environmental Damage Control at Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment.
“These awards from UN bodies and INTERPOL are an important international recognition of Indonesia’s commitment and consistency in tackling environmental crimes, from cross-border pollution to the illegal trade of protected wildlife,” Rasio said in a statement.
Gakkum LHK earned two key distinctions, the Collaboration Award and the Impact Award.
The Collaboration Award was granted for coordinated action in prosecuting the MT Arman 114 supertanker oil spill case (2023–2024), conducted jointly with the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA), the Riau Islands High Prosecutor’s Office, the Batam District Attorney’s Office, and the Batam Immigration Office.
The case led to a seven-year prison sentence and a Rp5 billion (US$310,000) fine for the ship’s captain, while 166,975 metric tons of crude oil were confiscated by the state, one of Indonesia’s largest maritime environmental verdicts.
The Impact Award recognized the Ujung Kulon National Park Task Force, a collaboration among Gakkum LHK, the Ujung Kulon National Park Agency, and the Banten Police, for dismantling a major network involved in the illegal poaching and trade of Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) horns.
The AEERE 2024–2025 is jointly organized by UNEP, INTERPOL, CITES, the Basel Convention Secretariat, UNDP, UNODC, and the World Customs Organization (WCO), with additional support from the World Bank Global Wildlife Programme, Ozone Secretariat, and the Minamata Convention Secretariat.
This year marks the ninth edition of the awards, themed “Fighting Transboundary Crimes that Affect the Environment.” Gakkum LHK has previously received several Asian Environmental Awards, including for Innovation, Integrity, and Gender Leadership (2019), Collaboration (2021), and Gender Leadership (2022).
“This recognition belongs to all law enforcement officers and partner institutions working together to protect Indonesia’s environment and natural resources,” Rasio said. “It proves that our collaborative enforcement efforts are recognized globally.” ***
