Barelang Police Uncover Philippines-Cambodia Online Gambling Network in Batam

The Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of Barelang Police Department has uncovered an international online gambling operation operating secretly in a luxury home in the Taman Golf Residence housing complex, Sukajadi Village, Batam Kota District, Riau Islands.

During the raid on Thursday, 21 May 2026, police discovered a ‘secret office’ serving as the operational hub connected directly to the Philippines and Cambodia. Three suspects identified as HR (43), HL (35), and ET (40) were apprehended.

Barelang Police Chief Senior Commissioner Anggoro Wicaksono explained that the investigation began with public reports of suspicious activity at the luxury home. ‘The team conducted an investigation before carrying out the raid at 2:45 PM WIB,’ he stated in a press release on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

At a press conference on Monday, 25 May 2026, Barelang Police Criminal Investigation Unit Chief Commissioner M. Debby Tri Andrestian revealed the network’s staggering turnover. Preliminary checks showed the illegal business, operational since 2024, generated up to Rp10 billion monthly.

Debby added that the perpetrators promoted the gambling site via social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. To evade law enforcement surveillance, they had relocated their operations twice.

In addition to arresting the suspects, police seized key evidence, including 16 mobile phones, three tablets, one laptop, two CPUs, four monitors, four bank tokens, two passports, and Rp1,001,460,000 in cash.

The suspects face charges under Article 45(3) in conjunction with Article 27(2) of Law No. 1 of 2024 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE), and Article 426 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP). They could face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to Rp10 billion.