Five Men from Bekasi Detained by Civil Service Police for Catching Sailfin Catfish for Sale in Central Jakarta

Five men from Cikarang, West Java, were detained for being caught catching sailfin catfish in the Ciliwung River, Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, to sell. The five were secured after a resident’s complaint.

“We secured them after receiving a report from residents who were suspicious of their activities,” said the Head of the Sawah Besar Civil Service Police Unit, Central Jakarta, Darwis Silitonga, in Jakarta, as reported by Antara on Friday (24/4/2026).

The sailfin catfish that were successfully caught were immediately cleaned, with the flesh, eggs, and skin separated. The five admitted that the sailfin catfish flesh would be sold in Cikarang to collectors for use as siomay filling.

“We secured five men who were working and selling sailfin catfish flesh,” he said.

Darwis added that the eggs from the sailfin catfish were used as fishing bait, and among the five men, only one had an ID card.

They always caught fish in river locations where the water flow was reduced or during low tide. All of their catch was immediately confiscated by the Civil Service Police officers to be destroyed.

“We destroyed everything by burying it. We also asked them not to sell sailfin catfish flesh for use in siomay,” he added.