Indonesian Police Arrest 321 Foreign Nationals, Including 57 Chinese, for Running Online Gambling Operation in Jakarta
In a recent development, the Indonesian police announced the arrest of 321 foreign citizens, including 57 Chinese nationals, in Jakarta on Saturday, May 9, on suspicion of operating an online gambling network. According to reports from the Indonesian Antara news agency and Reuters, the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Bureau disclosed that 275 out of the 321 arrested individuals are facing charges under Indonesian criminal law related to gambling activities, which could lead to a maximum sentence of nine years in prison.
The crackdown was initiated based on public tips that led investigators to uncover an organized gambling operation involving individuals from multiple countries. The arrests took place on Thursday, May 7, and investigations are ongoing as authorities continue to delve into the activities of the apprehended individuals. The group was apprehended while operating an online gambling platform.
The detainees comprised 57 Chinese, 228 Vietnamese, 11 Laotians, 13 Burmese, 3 Malaysians, 3 Cambodians, and 5 Thais. The arrests were made inside an office building in the central district of Jakarta. This operation comes at a time when Indonesian authorities are intensifying efforts to combat online gambling and international criminal networks.
According to Wira Satya Triputra, the head of the General Crime Division at the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Bureau, each suspect was involved in the operation of the online gambling platform as a source of income. “This was an organized activity that utilized electronic systems and cross-border digital operations,” he stated.
During the operation, authorities seized evidence, including safety deposit boxes, passports, mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, and various foreign currencies. Investigators also identified approximately 75 internet domain names and websites believed to be aiding in online gambling.
Triputra mentioned that these platforms used specific character combinations and labeling strategies to circumvent blocking measures. The suspects had been running this online gambling operation for two months. He added that most of the arrested foreign individuals were well aware that they had come to Indonesia to engage in online gambling businesses, primarily targeting foreign clients.
Untung Widyatmoko, an official from the Indonesian branch of the International Criminal Police Organization, highlighted a trend where online gambling activities are shifting from various cities in Cambodia to Indonesia. This marks the second major crackdown by Indonesian authorities on foreign nationals within two days. On Friday, May 8, the Indonesian Immigration Department arrested 210 foreign citizens on Batam Island, approximately 20 kilometers from Singapore, for their alleged involvement in online investment scams.