Not Just ASEAN: Global Online Gambling Syndicates Also Operating in UAE and South Africa

Indonesian National Police (Polri) have revealed that perpetrators of transnational digital crimes are not only operating in Indonesia or other ASEAN countries. These online criminals, ranging from online gambling (judol) to scams, are also hitching rides in other nations.

Secretary of the Indonesian Interpol NCB at Polri’s International Relations Division, Brigadier General Untung Widyatmoko, explained that there has been a shift in the bases of online gambling syndicates, which were previously rampant in the Indochina region. They relocated after large-scale crackdowns.

“Following the crackdown on online operation patterns, including scamming—comprising love scams and online investments—as well as online gambling, it is known that the Indochina region, particularly Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, had long been bases for recruitment and online criminal activities,” said Untung on Saturday (9/5/2026).

He made this statement during a press conference announcing the arrest of 321 foreign nationals related to online gambling in an office building in the Hayam Wuruk area, West Jakarta. He stated that Indonesia has anticipated the shift of these online gambling perpetrators to other countries.

“After the crackdowns, shifts began occurring to Indonesia, which we have anticipated and predicted,” he continued.

These international online gambling syndicates hitch rides in a country to run their illicit businesses. However, their victims are outside the country where they manage the online gambling operations.

Online Gambling Syndicates Not Targeting RI Alone

Untung said these online gambling syndicates are not only in Indonesia. After the Indochina region was cracked down on, the perpetrators shifted as far as Timor Leste.

“The target countries, or destination countries, are not just Indonesia. The Philippines is also one destination, and Timor Leste has become another,” he said.

Polri stated that they have been monitoring the movement of the perpetrators’ equipment and have found evidence from these international online gambling syndicates. He said this global online gambling network exists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to South Africa (Afsel).

“It’s just a coincidence, but not only Indonesia. If a bit further, a bit more distant play, United Arab Emirates, Dubai. Even further, South Africa, Pretoria, Johannesburg, those have also become destinations,” Untung stated.

Massive Enforcement in RI

Untung explained that the movement of these syndicates was detected from a series of revelations in various major cities across the country. From Surabaya, Denpasar, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Batam, Sukabumi, Bogor, to the latest arrest of 321 foreign nationals in Jakarta.

“Fellows know Sihanoukville, Mae Sot, Myawaddy, to Bavet. Those were the locations of the servers that were previously there and now cracked down on, and starting to shift to Indonesian territory,” he revealed.

He explained several reasons why Indonesia is now a target. Besides market opportunities, the Visa-Free Visit facility (BVK) has become a loophole exploited by the syndicates to enter under the guise of tourism.

“Actually, it’s not ultimately becoming a target area, but based on invitations and calls, and there is the visa-free visit facility. On one side, our government needs to boost tourism numbers, but on the other side, this is like two sides of a coin, the bright side and the dark side,” Untung clarified.

Besides the visa facility, Untung mentioned the role of prior syndicates. They invite their foreign associates to open operations in Indonesia.

“Who invites them? Their friends, ex-veterans from Cambodia. Because we see the nationalities coming (caught) here are from the Indochina region,” he said.

Due to this phenomenon, Untung assured that Polri has coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) and the Directorate General of Immigration. Polri proposes the formation of a special task force to handle countries on the Subject of Interest (SOI) list.

“If left alone, if only Polri takes action, it certainly won’t be effective. We need to sit together for consolidation to form a task force,” he added.

“Because if left alone, if only Polri takes action, it certainly won’t be effective,” he concluded.