Criminal Liability Warned for Traders Suspected of Watering Down Cattle to Inflate Weight
Metro Jaya Regional Police have warned traders not to engage in the practice of gelonggong, where the weight of cattle is inflated by injecting water, in the run-up to Eid al-Adha 2026. Police emphasise that manipulating the weight of cattle in this way could amount to a criminal offence. Director of Special Criminal Investigation at the Metro Jaya Regional Police, Victor Dean Mackbon, said the gelonggong practice constitutes a crime against animals and is addressed in the new Indonesian Penal Code. He urged the public to monitor and report any indications of fraud on the ground.
The warning followed an inspection of sacrificial animals conducted by the Metro Jaya Police together with the DKI Jakarta Food Security, Maritime Affairs and Agriculture Agency (DKPKP) at Perumda Dharma Jaya in East Jakarta on Thursday, 21 May 2026. The joint checks also aim to ensure the animals are free from diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
“If we talk about gelonggong, it is a crime. The crime involves how the animal’s posture or weight is manipulated by the addition of water,” Mackbon said. He noted that police have previously encountered similar cases and hopes such practices do not recur this year.
“Indeed, there have been prior cases. This is a crime against animals and is covered by the new Penal Code,” he added.
Public urged to report
The police urged the public to help monitor and report any signs of gelonggong cattle on the ground. Mackbon said one identifiable sign is often visible during slaughter, with animals appearing to contain an excessive amount of water.
The Metro Jaya Police, together with DKPKP and Perumda Dharma Jaya, will maintain heightened oversight of beef circulation ahead of Eid al-Adha to ensure the health of sacrificial animals and to prevent the spread of both foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
“We hope this readiness process can run smoothly until Eid al-Adha is finished,” he added.