Police name 11 foreign nationals as suspects in 'pig butchering' syndicate

Semarang - Central Java Police have named 11 foreign nationals as suspects in a ‘pig butchering’ online scam operation based in Sukoharjo Regency, targeting US citizens.

Senior Commissioner Himawan Sutanto Saragih, Director of the Central Java Police Cyber Crime Directorate, said in Semarang on Monday: ‘Total suspects are 39, including seven Nepalese, four Myanmar nationals, and the rest Indonesian citizens.’

He explained that the suspects had various roles, such as leaders, marketing personnel, and models posing to convince victims.

The scam operated under the guise of PT Digi Global Konsultan, a company based in Sukoharjo Regency, which served as both a recruitment office and operational hub for the organised online fraud.

Victims who formed emotional connections were directed to invest via manipulated fake cryptocurrency trading platforms, he added.

A total of 133 victims have fallen for the syndicate’s scheme, with the group reportedly earning Rp41.1 billion between July 2025 and May 2026.

During the investigation, police also searched several boarding houses suspected of supporting the syndicate’s operations.

The suspects face charges under Law No. 1 of 2024 on Electronic Information and Transactions and Article 492 of the Criminal Code on fraud.