Raids seize 321 suspects and tech gear as authorities target cross-border betting networks.
Indonesian police have detained more than 300 foreign nationals in Jakarta for allegedly running a large online gambling syndicate that targeted victims overseas, underscoring the country’s escalating war on illicit betting.
Mass Detention In Jakarta Raid
On May 7, police raided a building in the capital and detained 321 foreign nationals, seizing phones, passports, laptops and computers allegedly used to run an online gambling operation. Gambling is illegal in Indonesia and penalties apply to operators, bettors and those who promote betting content online.
Nationalities And Alleged Roles
Police official Wira Satya Triputra said 228 of those detained were Vietnamese, alongside 57 from China, 11 from Laos, five from Thailand and three each from Cambodia and Malaysia. He said 275 suspects face gambling and money laundering charges, with investigations continuing into the remaining detainees after officers “caught the perpetrators red-handed” operating the platform.
Cross-Border Operations And Shifting Syndicates
Preliminary findings suggest the ring, which began operating about two months ago, was targeting victims outside Indonesia, although police have not disclosed specific destinations. Authorities note that many scammers and gambling syndicates have shifted from China to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries following Beijing’s crackdown, using regional hubs to run cross-border schemes.
Parallel Raids In Batam And Bali
In the same week, immigration officers in Batam, Riau Islands province, raided an apartment building and arrested 210 foreign nationals suspected of orchestrating an investment scam, while in February police stormed two villas in Bali and detained 39 Indian nationals accused of running an illegal gambling operation, indicating a broad, nationwide clampdown on foreign-led digital crime.
Scale Of Online Gambling In Indonesia
Official data show online gambling turnover in Indonesia exceeded 280 trillion rupiah (approx. S$20.3 billion) in 2025, with an estimated 12 million Indonesians involved. The latest raids highlight both the domestic demand fueling such platforms and the extent to which international syndicates view Indonesia as a base for lucrative, illegal betting and scam operations.
The Jakarta raid and related operations in Batam and Bali reveal how deeply entrenched foreign-run online gambling and scam networks have become across Indonesia, even as authorities intensify enforcement. For Indonesians and Singaporeans alike, the cases underscore the importance of regional cooperation, public vigilance and strong financial controls to disrupt cross-border platforms that exploit digital channels and lure millions into illicit betting and fraud.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , ABS CBN (2026)
Keywords: Jakarta Gambling Raid, 321 Foreign Suspects, Money Laundering Charges, Batam Investment Scam, Bali Gambling Crackdown
