Police rescued thousands of smuggled birds at a port in Indonesia.

Officers raided the Bandar Bakau Jaya Harbor in South Lampung Regency, where some 6,514 wild birds were scheduled to be shipped on Wednesday evening, October 15.

Akhir Santoso, Head of the Bakauheni Port Quarantine Service Unit, said the operation came after officials received a tip-off that a vehicle carrying the wildlife was headed for the harbour to make a delivery.

He said: 'At around 8:30 pm, officers succeeded in thwarting the delivery of wildlife. There were 6,514 birds packed in 216 plastic crates at the Bandar Bakau Jaya Port, Bakauheni.'

The animals were believed to have come from Kayu Agung town in South Sumatra. They were believed to be destined for Tangerang in Java, but officials found that the shipment was unauthorised.

The sender was a certain 'Usman', while the receiver was identified as 'OKJ'.

The rescued birds included several bar-winged prinia, black-headed bulbuls, hummingbirds, mangrove blue flycatchers, starlings, and turtledoves, among other wild avians.

Santoso said the alleged smugglers had violated Article 88 of Law Number 21 of 2019 concerning the quarantine of animals, fish and plants. The offence carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to 2 billion IDR (98,993 GBP).

They also reportedly violated Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Ecosystems, punishable with up to five years in jail.

(1 GBP = 20203 IDR)