Indonesian police said 321 foreign nationals were arrested in Jakarta during a raid on an alleged online gambling hub near Chinatown. Investigators linked the site to more than 70 websites targeting players outside Indonesia, and said workers had structured roles such as customer service, telemarketing, and financial administration. Organisers are still being traced.
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Indonesian police said a raid in Jakarta led to the arrest of 321 foreign nationals. Authorities linked the group to an alleged online gambling network. Police described it as one of Indonesia’s biggest actions against illegal digital betting. Investigators said the network ran dozens of websites. The sites allegedly targeted gamblers outside Indonesia.
Police said officers entered a commercial building near Jakarta’s Chinatown area. Investigators called it a hub for more than 70 gambling sites. Police based that claim on marketing records and digital evidence. Authorities also said the group ran at least 75 betting platforms. Many gambling syndicates reportedly shift locations to avoid detection.
Indonesia online gambling raid details and arrests
Wira Satya Triputra, director of general crimes at the Indonesian National Police, listed the nationalities. Police arrested 228 Vietnamese and 57 Chinese nationals. Others came from Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia. Triputra said investigators were still tracing organisers and financial backers. Police also said the operation had run for about two months.
“We arrested the suspects in the act while they were carrying out activities related to online gambling,\” Triputra told a news conference Saturday. Triputra said the group worked in a structured way. Workers reportedly handled customer service, telemarketing and financial administration. Police said the building functioned as a base for the operation’s daily tasks.
Indonesia online gambling visas, evidence and charges
Triputra said many suspects entered Indonesia on short-term visitor visas. Police said several overstayed permits while working at the site. Authorities said they found immigration violations alongside suspected gambling and money-laundering offences. Police seized cash in several currencies, computers and mobile phones. Officers also collected passports and other equipment.
Triputra said 275 detainees had been formally named suspects by Saturday. Others were still being questioned, police said. Authorities said those charged could face up to nine years in prison. Police also cited a possible fine of 2 billion rupiah, or $116,000. The penalties fall under Indonesia’s criminal and immigration laws.
Indonesia online gambling networks and regional shift
Untung Widyatmoko, secretary of Indonesia’s Interpol bureau, said similar cases emerged elsewhere. Authorities uncovered related operations in Surabaya, Bali and Batam in recent months. Widyatmoko said the pattern showed a need for tighter coordination. Law enforcement and government agencies must work together against online gambling and scam networks.
Widyatmoko said police detected signs of movement from Cambodia into other countries. Authorities there had carried out crackdowns, Widyatmoko said. \”After enforcement measures in Cambodia, we started to see a shift toward Indonesia, and that was something we anticipated,\” Widyatmoko said. Police said the Jakarta case could lead to more arrests tied to international networks.
Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country. Authorities said enforcement has increased due to worries about organised crime. Police also raised concerns about cross-border cyber activity linked to betting sites. Investigators said the current probe remained active, and further findings may follow from ongoing questioning and evidence checks.
With inputs from PTI