Jakarta, ThedailyID — Indonesian police have charged 287 foreign nationals in connection with an alleged online gambling syndicate operating from an office complex in West Jakarta, marking one of the country’s largest crackdowns on illegal online betting networks.
Deputy Chief of the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, said authorities initially detained 322 foreign nationals during the operation. Investigators have charged 287 suspects, while they continue examining the remaining 35 people.
According to Nunung, the suspects include 185 Vietnamese nationals, 76 Chinese nationals, 15 Myanmar nationals, six Thai nationals, three Lao nationals and two Malaysian nationals.
Investigators also seized hundreds of electronic devices believed to support the operation. The evidence includes 594 mobile phones, 382 laptops, 179 desktop computers and monitors, 11 Mac Mini devices, along with routers and other digital equipment.
Police also confiscated cash in Indonesian rupiah and several foreign currencies with a combined value of about Rp8.7 billion, or approximately US$530,000. In addition, investigators seized 155 passports during the operation.
According to Nunung, investigators are now tracing the syndicate’s financial transactions and criminal assets. They are also examining the role of companies that sponsored the foreign nationals’ entry into Indonesia.
Meanwhile, police are considering possible money laundering charges as the investigation expands.
Bareskrim launched the operation after raiding the alleged online gambling headquarters at Hayam Wuruk Plaza Tower in the Taman Sari district of West Jakarta on May 9.
Authorities said the gambling operation employed hundreds of foreign nationals from several countries, including China, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
