Tanjungpinang — The government through the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) has thwarted an attempt to send an Indonesian citizen (WNI) illegally to Cambodia to work as an online gambling admin or also known as online gambling (Judol).
The offer of a large salary is the main attraction for victims recruited by the syndicate from North Sumatra to Tanjungpinang.
Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Service and Protection Center (BP3MI) for the Riau Islands, Police Commissioner Imam Riyadi, revealed that the victim with the initials MZ, a resident of North Sumatra, was lured by the promise of high income from the illegal work.
“During the investigation, it was found that the recruitment administrator in Cambodia had the initials R, and the person who helped him in Tanjungpinang had the initials A,” said Imam.
R is known to have persuaded MZ via telephone to work as an online gambling operator with the promise of a salary of IDR 10 million per month.
After obtaining the victim’s consent, R arranged the trip from Kualanamu Airport in Medan to Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, and then to SBP Tanjungpinang Port.
The victim was scheduled to cross to Malaysia as a transit point before being flown to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. However, the plan was thwarted by BP3MI Kepri on Wednesday (4/6/2025).
MZ is now being accommodated at the BP3MI Kepri shelter and has been examined by the Women and Children Protection (PPA) Unit of the Tanjungpinang Police.
“The suspects who helped in Tanjungpinang will be questioned,” said Imam, adding that a case title would be held in the near future.
Minister of P2MI Abdul Kadir Karding reminded the public to be wary of job offers with the lure of large salaries abroad, especially as online gambling operators.
“Less caution and easy persuasion can be one of the doors to fall. Go procedurally or legally to avoid problems and be protected,” said Karding.
Meanwhile, the government continues to strengthen its efforts to eradicate online gambling. OJK’s Chief Executive of Banking Supervision Dian Ediana Rae said that her party has asked banks to block around 17,000 accounts until May 2025.
“We also ask banks to close accounts that match population identification numbers and conduct enhanced due diligence,” he said. *
