Trail of Online Gambling Operators Busted in Benoa: From the Philippines, Cambodia, Ending in Bali
The trail of these two online gambling (judol) operators is notably long and spans multiple countries. Raided in the Philippines and then Cambodia, they persisted with their activities until finally being apprehended in Bali.
The two suspects were arrested at Jalan Pratama Gang Hasan No 3, Benoa, Kuta Selatan, Badung, Bali. They are identified by the initials IJT alias Gisel (23) and WAB alias Guang Yun (31).
Bali Police’s Director of Cyber Crime Investigation, Kombes Aszhari Kurniawan, revealed that both had worked as online gambling operators in the Philippines around 2024.
“Both are known to have worked as online gambling operators in the Philippines around 2024,” Aszhari stated.
Raided in the Philippines, Continuing to Cambodia
Their trail continued when the workplace in the Philippines was raided by local police in October 2025. However, the raid did not deter them.
Instead of returning to Indonesia, they were taken by their leader to Cambodia to continue working in the same field.
“After the raid in the Philippines, the suspects were taken to Cambodia to continue working in the same field,” he said.
In Cambodia, the illegal activities resumed until, in January 2026, the location of their workplace was again raided by local police. Following that incident, they were instructed by their leader to return to Indonesia.
Continuing Operations in Bali
On 21 January 2026, IJT and WAB arrived in Bali. Far from stopping, they resumed their activities as online gambling managers.
They rented a place in the Benoa area as an operational base. In Bali, IJT acted as a telemarketer tasked with offering online gambling sites to potential players.
Meanwhile, WAB served as customer service, handling communications with players via live chat.
“Both continued these activities due to the allure of substantial salaries,” Aszhari explained.
Controlled by a Cross-Border Network
Aszhari explained that in carrying out their operations, the suspects were under the control of an organised network. For the site ketua.co, they were directed by a leader with initials PNJ, suspected to be a Chinese national in Cambodia.
For the site GN77, they were controlled by a leader with initials CND, reportedly in Kalimantan.
From this case revelation, police assess the online gambling network involving the suspects as cross-border in nature. This is evident from the relocation of operations from the Philippines, Cambodia, and finally to Indonesia.
Currently, investigators from Bali Police’s Cyber Crime Directorate are continuing developments to uncover a wider network, including pursuing the leaders suspected to be abroad.