Civil Service Police Crack Down on Five Sellers of Sailfin Catfish Meat in Central Jakarta

The Civil Service Police Unit (Satpol PP) has taken action against five men selling sailfin catfish meat along the embankment of the Ciliwung River child channel in the Pasar Baru area, Central Jakarta. The crackdown was carried out after receiving reports from residents regarding the suspicious activities of the five men. “We secured them after receiving reports from residents who were suspicious of their activities,” said the Head of Satpol PP for Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, Darwis Silitonga, in Jakarta on Friday (24/4). Darwis stated that the five individuals are residents of Cikarang. They clean all the sailfin catfish they catch by separating the meat, eggs, and skin. According to Darwis, based on the confessions of the five secured residents, the sailfin catfish meat is sold to collectors in Cikarang for use as siomay ingredients. Meanwhile, the fish eggs are utilised as fishing bait. “We secured five men who were working and selling sailfin catfish meat,” he said. Darwis added that only one of the five men possessed an identity card. These sailfin catfish hunters, Darwis continued, always seek fish in river locations where the water flow is reduced or during low tide. Currently, he said, all their catches have been seized by Satpol PP officers for destruction. “We destroy everything by burying it. We also asked them not to sell sailfin catfish meat for sale as siomay,” he added.