Indonesian police bust illegal casino in Batam, arrest 197

Indonesian police have dismantled an illegal casino and "gelper" (amusement game) gambling operation in Batam, arresting 197 individuals, including 10 foreign nationals. The raid occurred Saturday night at the Nagoya Game Zone in Riau Islands province.

Among those detained were owners, managers, cashiers, and patrons allegedly engaged in gambling activities at the time of the raid. Authorities seized approximately 7.79 billion rupiah (around $500,000) in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illegal operations.

According to Deputy Chief of the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) Inspector General Nunung Syaifuddin, the operation stemmed from public complaints and a three-month investigation. "The results of last night's operation, we secured 197 people, including foreign nationals. We also seized cash of around 7.79 billion rupiah," Syaifuddin told reporters on Sunday.

Police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full scope of the gambling network and the specific roles of alleged ringleaders and players. The operation highlights ongoing efforts by Indonesian authorities to combat illegal gambling activities.