Online Gambling Hub Raided, 275 Foreign Nationals Named Suspects

Indonesian authorities have struck a significant blow against an international online gambling syndicate, arresting 321 foreign nationals and designating 275 of them as suspects. The operation, which targeted a sophisticated network running 75 gambling websites, was based out of a high-rise office in West Jakarta and had been operating for approximately two months.

Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) stated that further investigations are underway to determine the roles of those not yet named as suspects. The syndicate's activities were concentrated on the 20th and 21st floors of the Hayam Wuruk Plaza Tower. Police are also scrutinizing the building's owners and management, as well as identifying the individuals who rented the office spaces.

The arrested individuals hail from various Asian countries, with a significant majority, 228, being from Vietnam. Other nationalities include 57 Chinese citizens, 11 from Laos, 13 from Myanmar, 3 from Malaysia, 5 from Thailand, and 3 from Cambodia. These individuals were reportedly residing in nearby apartments and hotels and were employed in various capacities, including as operators, telemarketers, financial personnel, and coordinators.

During the raid, police seized substantial evidence, including safes, passports, mobile phones, laptops, computers, and cash in various currencies totaling approximately Rp 1.9 billion. The equipment used to operate the online gambling sites was reportedly purchased within Indonesia, while the syndicate's servers are believed to be located abroad. Notably, police indicated that the syndicate's target audience was primarily foreign nationals, based on marketing materials and evidence gathered.

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The rest will still be investigated further, because we have to match the roles of those who are still under investigation.