By: Santi AY )*
The public was shocked by the success of the security forces, especially the Regional Police (Polda), in uncovering the increasingly rampant and organized online gambling (judol) network. One of them is the Aceh Regional Police (Polda) who recorded significant success in uncovering 75 cases of online gambling (judol). One of the biggest revelations occurred in West Aceh Regency, with three perpetrators being arrested and the circulation of illicit money reaching IDR 100 million per month. This case is concrete evidence that online gambling is not just a violation of the law, but an organized cyber crime that demands a quick and strategic response from the security forces.
Director of General Criminal Investigation of the Aceh Police, Senior Commissioner Ilham Saparona, revealed that the perpetrators’ method was quite structured. They utilized digital platforms and virtual payment systems that made this illegal activity look vague. However, reports from the public who were suspicious of activities in a house became the starting point for the police’s success in raiding the location and securing the perpetrators. From the location, officers confiscated two PCs, two cellphones, 60 starter cards, account books, and digital transaction records, all of which became important evidence in breaking the chain of online gambling in Aceh.
This effort not only shows the alertness of the authorities in responding to public reports, but also illustrates the importance of the active role of citizens in protecting the environment from the influence of gambling practices. Ilham emphasized that gambling is not just a violation of the law, but also a social disease that erodes morals and public order. This assertion is a reminder that the impact of gambling extends to many aspects of life, from the household economy to social harmony.
Moreover, the disclosure of online gambling cases also occurred in other regions with different scales and modes, but equally disturbing. The West Java Regional Police’s Special Criminal Investigation Directorate succeeded in dismantling a cross-regional online gambling network operating through sites such as BELO4D, MGO55, and MGO77. This case began with reports from residents who saw suspicious activity on social media, including a Facebook fanpage called Coach Sty” which turned out to be used to spread gambling advertisements.
Head of Public Relations of the West Java Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, revealed that the perpetrators are strongly suspected of being providers and renters of bank accounts to accommodate deposit funds from various online gambling sites. They not only use sophisticated technology, but also disguise their illegal activities through social media and online payment channels. From the results of the search, the police found computer devices, operational files of the sites, and passports that showed the connection of one of the perpetrators to an overseas network, including suspicious activities to Cambodia.
This fact shows that online gambling is not just a local crime, but has formed a cross-border network. This practice is increasingly difficult to track if it is not balanced with adaptive law enforcement to technological developments. Therefore, the disclosure of the case in West Java is an important milestone in raising public awareness of the complexity of cybercrime and the importance of cross-regional collaboration in breaking up the illegal network.
At the national level, the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police has also shown a serious commitment to uncovering financial crimes related to online gambling. The Head of Bareskrim, Commissioner General of Police Wahyu Widada, stated that his party had uncovered a criminal act of money laundering (TPPU) from online gambling involving the establishment of a shell company. This practice aims to disguise the flow of funds from gambling so that it appears legal in the eyes of the law.
Two people have been named as TPPU suspects, with a total of Rp530 billion in confiscated money. In addition, the police have also blocked 197 accounts belonging to the suspects spread across eight national banks. This step is a real form of the Police’s commitment to destroying the economic foundations of online gambling syndicates, not only arresting the perpetrators in the field, but also cutting off their sources and channels of funds.
This success deserves to be appreciated as a real manifestation of the state’s firmness in protecting society from the destructive impacts of online gambling. Gambling, in any form, has serious social consequences because it triggers poverty, domestic violence, moral destruction, and increases crime rates. By uncovering dozens of online gambling cases in a relatively short period of time, the authorities have shown that Indonesia does not tolerate practices that weaken the nation’s social resilience.
However, eradicating online gambling cannot be entirely the responsibility of the security forces. Active community involvement in reporting suspicious activities is crucial. In many cases, disclosures begin with reports from residents who care about their environment. Therefore, digital literacy and legal awareness of the community need to be continuously improved so that every individual is able to become part of the early detection system for potential digital crimes.
Collaboration across institutions, including banking, OJK, and digital platform providers is also the main key in narrowing the perpetrators’ room to move. Blocking accounts, tracking suspicious transactions, and filtering internet content need to be done simultaneously and continuously. That way, the public is expected to appreciate and fully support the firm steps of the security forces and the government in combating online gambling. Their brave actions not only enforce the law, but also protect the future of the nation from the infiltration of a destructive culture that is eroding the joints of social life.
)* The author is a Postgraduate Student.