Indonesian police arrest 321 foreigners in an operation to crack down on banned online gambling
Indonesian police arrested 321 foreigners, mostly Vietnamese, in Jakarta for operating over 70 illegal online gambling sites targeting international players, seizing cash, equipment, and uncovering immigration violations. Authorities suspect financial backers remain at large and warn of broader transnational crime networks shifting operations to Indonesia after crackdowns in neighboring countries.
Indonesian police conducted a major raid in Jakarta on Saturday, arresting 321 foreigners—228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese, and others from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia—in a crackdown on an alleged online gambling operation. The suspects were detained at a commercial building near Chinatown, which investigators identified as a hub for over 70 gambling websites targeting players outside Indonesia. Police seized cash, computers, mobile phones, and passports linked to the operation, which had been running for about two months with roles assigned for customer service, telemarketing, and financial administration. The operation uncovered immigration violations, as many suspects entered Indonesia on short-term visas and overstayed their permits. Wira Satya Triputra, director of general crimes for the Indonesian National Police, stated that 275 of those detained had been formally named as suspects, facing up to nine years in prison and fines under Indonesian law. Authorities are still tracing the organizers and financial backers behind the network. This raid follows recent crackdowns in Surabaya, Bali, and Batam, where similar transnational crime operations were uncovered. Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Indonesia’s Interpol bureau, noted that online gambling operators previously based in Myanmar and Cambodia have relocated to Indonesia after enforcement measures in those countries. He warned that tighter coordination among law enforcement agencies is needed to combat cross-border cybercrime. Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia, and authorities have intensified enforcement amid concerns over organized crime and cyber operations. The investigation may lead to additional arrests, as police continue to dismantle the network’s infrastructure. Similar operations in Batam, Surabaya, and West Java have also targeted foreign nationals involved in online scams and fraud, highlighting the persistence of these transnational criminal activities.
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