JAKARTA (dpa): Indonesian authorities have deported a German national after he was found conducting unauthorised research in Lore Lindu National Park, officials said Monday.
Vlad Alexandru Tataru was expelled by the Class I Immigration Office in Palu, a city in Central Sulawesi after allegedly collecting endemic plant samples without the required permits from relevant authorities.
He had entered the country on a visa on arrival, which does not allow research activities, the local immigration office said in a statement.
During an inspection, officers discovered several plant specimens in the man's possession, reportedly taken from protected research sites without authorization, including from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
The city's Head of Immigration Office said the case constituted a violation of immigration rules and an infringement on regulations governing access to Indonesia’s natural resources.
Authorities said the deportation is part of broader efforts to enforce immigration laws and safeguard national sovereignty, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas.
The German citizen has also been placed on a blacklist, barring his re-entry into Indonesia for a specified period.
Officials urged foreign nationals to comply with visa conditions and obtain proper permits for research activities, warning that violations would be met with firm action. -- dpa
