Tuesday, 16 June 2026
LABUHANBATU SELATAN | INDATANEWS.COM – Authorities in Labuhanbatu Selatan have arrested six members of an organized cattle theft syndicate suspected of targeting livestock ahead of Eid al-Adha. The arrests followed multiple public complaints regarding missing cattle across several villages.
Labuhanbatu Selatan Police Chief AKBP Aditya Sembiring Muham said the arrests were the result of rapid investigations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Unit in coordination with Kampungrakyat Police."The cattle theft cases caused significant concern among residents, especially ahead of Eid al-Adha. We received a total of seven police reports, all of which have now been resolved," he said during a press briefing at police headquarters.
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The suspects, identified by initials EM, AS alias Argo (33), AZS, MY alias Kepleh (56), DS (36), and EA (29), are believed to be part of a coordinated criminal network operating across Labuhanbatu Selatan.
Read Also:Police confirmed that three of the suspects are repeat offenders previously convicted in cattle and palm oil theft cases. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify possible additional members of the syndicate.
Victims Report Losses Ahead of Eid al-Adha
The case surfaced after a report by Elvi Riani (45), a resident of Pekantolan Village, who lost six cattle on April 13, 2026. The animals were discovered missing at around 05:30 a.m., with estimated losses reaching 20 million rupiah.Another victim, Rosmini Ritonga (48), also reported the loss of a jointly purchased sacrificial cow worth approximately 14 million rupiah.
Read Also:The suspects have been charged under Article 477 paragraph (1) letters C and G of Indonesia's Criminal Code (Law No. 1 of 2023), carrying a maximum penalty of six years in prison. Police continue to urge the public to report suspicious activities via the 110 emergency hotline. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Jhon Fitra Sagala | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
