Manado. Three residents of Manado, North Sulawesi, identified as Marsel, Jacky, and James, were arrested by the North Sulawesi Police on Tuesday for attempting to sell dozens of dead dogs for meat at a local market.

Fegy Lumantau, the officer handling the case, explained that the three suspects, who are dog collectors, were arrested in the Karombasan neighborhood of Manado. "There were a total of 28 dead dogs that were to be sold at the Pinasungkulan Market in Manado," Fegy revealed.

He added that the suspects were intercepted by officers as they were on their way to sell the dogs. "It is suspected that these dogs were stolen from residents' homes in North Sulawesi," he explained.

Fegy also mentioned that other suspects are still being pursued by the police. "The suspects and the evidence are currently detained at the North Sulawesi Police Headquarters for further processing," he concluded.

The consumption and trade of dog meat are not prohibited in Indonesia, but animal cruelty can be subject to criminal charges. Law Number 18 of 2009 on Animal Husbandry and Animal Health protects pets from abuse, stating in Article 69 that anyone who intentionally abuses a pet can be sentenced to up to four years in prison and fined up to Rp 200 million.

In some regions, dog meat is still consumed openly or covertly. Tomohon Market in North Sulawesi was once notorious for selling dog meat. However, since July of last year, the market has officially banned the trade of dog and cat meat.

In January, the Semarang City Police arrested five suspects in connection with the illegal transportation of hundreds of dogs intended for consumption. The police intercepted a truck transporting 226 dogs bound for Solo, Central Java. They were found tied up with their mouths and legs bound and suspended using sacks.