Jakarta – The government, through the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri), continues to hunt down the main actors and recruiters behind the international online gambling network raided at the Hayam Wuruk Plaza Tower in West Jakarta.
The investigation was launched after authorities arrested 321 foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the transnational online gambling operation.
The Director of General Crimes at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, Brigadier General Wira Satya Triputra, stated that investigators have obtained information on sponsors who allegedly brought hundreds of foreign nationals to Indonesia to work as online gambling operators.
“Regarding sponsors, we have obtained the data, but we will now develop it for the next stage,” Wira said.
According to him, investigators are still investigating the roles of each perpetrator, including the possibility of a main controller above the field operators.
“We are currently focused on conducting investigations and further investigations into the perpetrators we have arrested. However, we remain committed to further investigations,” said Wira.
Of the 321 foreign nationals arrested, 275 have been named suspects. They come from various countries, including Vietnam, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Police also discovered the presence of coordinators in each division of work within the online gambling operation.
“Currently, there are only coordinators for each type of work,” Wira explained.
He added that most of the perpetrators knew their purpose in coming to Indonesia was to work in the illegal online gambling sector.
“However, most of them did know they were here to work in online gambling,” he said.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, Secretary of the NCB Interpol, National Police’s International Relations Division, assessed a shift in transnational crime patterns in Indonesia after several Southeast Asian countries began tightening enforcement.
“Today’s developments show that the shifting pattern of transnational crime has begun to shift to Indonesia,” said Untung.
He explained that Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam were previously the main bases for online crime activities such as love scams, illegal investments, and online gambling.
However, after crackdowns in these countries, the networks began to shift into Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Information for the National Police’s Public Relations Division, Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, stated that hundreds of detained foreign nationals have now been transferred to several immigration offices for further investigation.
“This process is still ongoing and simultaneous,” said Trunoyudo.