Summary
- The police in Indonesia conducted raids at several locations as part of an operation targeting illegal gambling.
- During the crackdown, 22 individuals were arrested and various pieces of equipment were confiscated.
- The suspects are accused of promoting two illegal gambling websites, which reportedly generated hundreds of billions of Indonesian Rupiah.
A major police operation targeting illegal gambling in Indonesia has led to the arrest of several dozen suspects.
Nearly two dozen suspects were arrested and charged
Law enforcement conducted raids in various locations, including Bekasi, Bogor, Denpasar, and Tangerang. Notably, the police discovered that this illegal gambling operation extended beyond local borders, with connections to China and Cambodia. This unlawful network reportedly generated hundreds of billions of Indonesian Rupiah. According to a report by Antara News, the recent raids resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects. The large-scale police operation was carried out by the National Police (Polri) following an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Agency's Directorate of General Crimes. In addition to apprehending nearly two dozen suspects, law enforcement seized 354 mobile phones, several dozen computers, 18 ATM cards, as well as a car, a modem, and over 2,600 SIM cards used to promote illegal gambling. The arrested suspects face multiple charges under Indonesia's Criminal Code. Under the Electronic Information and Transactions Act, they could face up to six years in prison and a fine of Rp1 billion ($61,300). Meanwhile, charges under the Law on the Prevention and Eradication of Money Laundering could lead to fines of up to Rp1 billion ($61,300) and imprisonment ranging from five to 15 years. Consequently, if found guilty, some suspects could receive substantial prison sentences and significant fines for their roles in the illegal gambling operation.
The unlawful gambling operation generated significant sums despite operating for less than a year
Brigadier General Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, recently quoted by a local media outlet, confirmed the arrest of 22 individuals who served as financial administrators, server managers, and operators. He stated, Each day, the operators could generate up to 500 WhatsApp accounts to send thousands of promotional messages promising easy deposits and guaranteed winnings. Puro expressed concern over the fact that the illegal gambling operation had generated hundreds of billions of rupiah in under a year. The investigation revealed that the suspects utilized SIM card numbers to create WhatsApp accounts, which they then used to advertise two illegal gambling websites. The police also discovered that the gambling ring was linked to agents in China and Cambodia, where the servers were hosted. It remains unclear whether any suspects have been apprehended in these countries. The group laundered millions of rupiah by depositing the money into bank accounts held under third parties. Additionally, some of the proceeds were converted into cryptocurrency to obscure the origin of the funds.
