JAKARTA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police have arrested 9 people for involving in illegal trade of endangered Komodo dragons, and are hunting another suspect, police said on Wednesday.

The alleged smugglers were part of an international network and have sold a total of 41 Komodo dragons to three countries in the Southeast Asia, director for the special criminal unit of East Java provincial police Senior Commissioner Akhmad Yusep Gunawan told media.

The nine persons were arrested in various cities in the provinces of East Java and Central Java, said Gunawan.

"This Komodo dragon trade has been undertaken internationally. It was certain that the animals have been sent to three nations in Southeast Asia," he said in Surabaya city.

Under the Indonesian law, the suspects could face five years of jail terms, if convicted, according to the police.

The police seized five cubs during a crackdown in Surabaya, Gunawan said.

The Komodo dragons were obtained from Flores Island, the habitat of the species, he added.

The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard that lives in Indonesian islands of Komodo.