Cunning Scheme: 321 Foreign Nationals Drain Public Funds Through Online Gambling, Expert's Take

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesian Police (Polri) have uncovered a cross-border online gambling (judol) practice involving hundreds of foreign nationals (WNA) in the Hayam Wuruk area of Jakarta. A total of 321 individuals were secured in a major operation deemed one of the largest revelations of an international judol network in Indonesia.

The network is suspected of operating systematically and in an organised manner, primarily targeting Indonesian society. The perpetrators used dozens of websites and internet domains to conduct online gambling activities while evading blocks by authorities.

Police observer Fernando Ernesto Maraden Sitorus views the uncovering of this case as demonstrating Polri’s seriousness in protecting the public from cross-border digital crime threats.

“Funds flowing out of Indonesian citizens’ pockets abroad through these illegal platforms reach a very worrying figure,” Fernando told reporters on Friday (15/5/2026).

According to Fernando, online gambling practices not only cause financial losses but also trigger widespread social impacts within society.

He stated that the majority of online gambling victims come from the lower-middle class, lured by promises of instant profits. As a result, many victims lose their savings, become mired in debt, and experience family breakdowns.

“They lose their savings, get trapped in debt, and in many cases lose their families. Polri’s actions directly sever the exploitation mechanism targeting this most vulnerable group,” he said.

Fernando assesses Polri’s success in dismantling the network as a real implementation of the Precision concept long championed by National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

“Polri’s steps are a concrete form of the intelligence of the Precision concept launched by National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo, a real commitment to the people, especially those who have been victims,” he said.

In the operation conducted by Polri’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) on Thursday (7/5/2026), authorities arrested 320 foreign nationals and one Indonesian citizen (WNI). The perpetrators hailed from various countries: 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese, 11 Laotian, 13 Myanmar nationals, three each from Malaysia and Cambodia, and five Thais.