Analyst Praises Polri for Arresting 321 Foreign Nationals in International Online Gambling Network
Jakarta, VIVA – Indonesian National Police (Polri) have successfully apprehended 321 foreign nationals involved in a cross-border online gambling (judol) operation. This network operated systematically and in an organised manner, primarily targeting Indonesian citizens as victims by exploiting regulatory loopholes and digital infrastructure.
Director of the Indonesian Political House (RPI), Fernando Emas, views this operation as more than a routine arrest; it is the result of thorough intelligence, cross-agency coordination, and dedicated efforts by law enforcement focused on public protection.
Cross-border online gambling has become a real threat to the welfare of Indonesian society. Funds flowing from the pockets of Indonesian people abroad through these illegal platforms have reached alarmingly high figures. Beyond financial losses, the social impacts—including addiction, family breakdowns, and derivative crimes—are felt most acutely by the most vulnerable lower strata of society.
Polri’s success in dismantling this network is a concrete step in breaking the long-standing chain of losses. “This Polri action is a concrete manifestation of the intelligence of the Precision Concept launched by Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a real commitment to the people, especially those who have been victims,” said Fernando Emas in a written statement on Friday, 15 May 2026.
Fernando expressed positive feedback and high appreciation for Polri’s performance in this major operation. According to him, the arrest of 321 foreign nationals is not merely a statistical achievement but a reflection of the real implementation of a modern policing concept that favours the public.
The primary victims of online gambling are middle- to lower-class individuals lured by promises of instant profits. He added that online gambling victims lose savings, fall into debt, and in many cases, lose their families. Polri’s actions directly sever the exploitation mechanism targeting these most vulnerable groups.
Fernando Emas emphasised that RPI’s appreciation is given precisely because this step touches on the most fundamental interests of the people: protection from crimes that erode from within.
The arrest of 321 foreign nationals sends a clear message to international criminal networks that Indonesia is no longer a territory easily exploited. Polri has demonstrated its capacity and political will to act beyond conventional jurisdictional boundaries to protect its citizens.
Polri’s success in arresting 321 foreign nationals involved in cross-border online gambling is an important milestone in Indonesia’s journey to enforce its digital sovereignty.