Indonesian law enforcement officials detained 321 foreign nationals during a Saturday operation targeting an illegal online gambling enterprise in Jakarta, according to police statements.
The arrests took place at an office complex in Central Jakarta as part of ongoing efforts to combat prohibited online gambling activities in Indonesia, which maintains strict prohibitions on gambling as the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.
Wira Satya Triputra, who leads the Indonesian police force’s criminal investigation division, revealed the nationality breakdown during a news briefing. The detained individuals included 228 Vietnamese citizens, 57 Chinese nationals, 13 from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, five Thai citizens, and three Cambodian nationals.
According to Wira’s statements, the gambling operation had been active for approximately two months before the raid occurred.
Among the 321 individuals taken into custody, 275 face potential charges under Indonesia’s criminal statutes regarding gambling violations, which could result in prison sentences of up to nine years if convicted.
Wira indicated that the majority of the foreign suspects understood they had traveled to Indonesia specifically to operate online gambling services, and their operations primarily served customers outside Indonesia.
Untung Widyatmoko, representing Interpol Indonesia, addressed reporters about emerging patterns in regional criminal activity. He noted that online gambling operations appear to be relocating from Cambodian urban centers to Indonesian territory.
This enforcement action represents the second major arrest of foreign nationals within a 48-hour period. Indonesian immigration officials had previously apprehended 210 foreign individuals on Friday in connection with alleged online investment fraud schemes on Batam island, located approximately 20 kilometers from Singapore.
