Central Java Police Uncover Pig Butchering Syndicate in Sukoharjo with 11 Foreign Nationals as Suspects

Central Java Police have identified 11 foreign nationals as suspects in a cyber fraud syndicate operating under the guise of romance and investment scams, commonly known as pig butchering. The syndicate, based in Sukoharjo Regency, primarily targeted US citizens. Senior Commissioner Himawan Sutanto Saragih, Director of Cyber Crime at Central Java Police, revealed that a total of 39 suspects are involved, with 11 being foreign nationals—seven from Nepal and four from Myanmar—while the rest are Indonesian citizens. ‘The suspects have varying roles, from leaders and marketing personnel to models posing to convince victims,’ Himawan stated in Semarang on Monday (1 June). The syndicate operated under the guise of PT Digi Global Konsultan, a company based in Sukoharjo Regency. The office served as both a recruitment centre and the operational hub for the well-organised cyber fraud activities. The modus operandi involved building emotional connections with victims via social media, dating apps, and other digital communication tools. Once trust was established, victims were directed to invest in manipulated cryptocurrency trading platforms controlled by the syndicate. Investigations revealed 133 victims trapped in the scheme. Between July 2025 and May 2026, the syndicate illegally profited up to Rp41.1 billion. During the investigation, police conducted raids on several rented accommodations suspected of supporting the operation. Evidence seized included hundreds of mobile phones, computers, and laptops used in the fraud. The suspects face charges under the 2024 Electronic Information and Transactions Law (ITE) and Article 492 of the Criminal Code on fraud. Indonesia was deliberately chosen as an operational base due to its adequate internet infrastructure for running large-scale online gambling servers.