(Indonesia, 10th) — Indonesian police have arrested 321 foreign nationals, most of whom are from Vietnam, on suspicion of involvement in illegal online gambling activities.
Indonesian police announced on Saturday (May 9) that the suspects were arrested in an office building in downtown Jakarta. Indonesian authorities are making a concerted effort to crack down on online gambling and international criminal syndicates.
The head of the Indonesian Police Criminal Investigation Department, Wira, said at a press conference that those arrested include 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese, 13 Myanmar nationals, 11 Laotians, five Thais, and three Cambodians.
Reuters quoted Wira as saying that the suspects had been operating the online gambling den for two months. Of the 321 people arrested, 275 have been charged with violating Indonesia's gambling laws, which carry a maximum penalty of nine years' imprisonment.
Wira said most of the foreigners were aware that they had come to Indonesia to operate online gambling activities, adding that their main target customers were foreign clients.
Wongtong, a representative of the Indonesian branch of Interpol, said at a press conference that there is currently a trend of online gambling operations shifting from Cambodian cities to Indonesia.
This is the second mass arrest of foreigners by Indonesian authorities in two days. On Friday, Indonesia's immigration authorities announced that law enforcement officers arrested 210 foreign nationals suspected of participating in online investment fraud in an apartment in Batam Island.
The head of the Indonesian Police Criminal Investigation Department, Wira, said at a press conference that those arrested include 228 Vietnamese, 57 Chinese, 13 Myanmar nationals, 11 Laotians, five Thais, and three Cambodians.
Reuters quoted Wira as saying that the suspects had been operating the online gambling den for two months. Of the 321 people arrested, 275 have been charged with violating Indonesia's gambling laws, which carry a maximum penalty of nine years' imprisonment.
Wira said most of the foreigners were aware that they had come to Indonesia to operate online gambling activities, adding that their main target customers were foreign clients.
Wongtong, a representative of the Indonesian branch of Interpol, said at a press conference that there is currently a trend of online gambling operations shifting from Cambodian cities to Indonesia.
This is the second mass arrest of foreigners by Indonesian authorities in two days. On Friday, Indonesia's immigration authorities announced that law enforcement officers arrested 210 foreign nationals suspected of participating in online investment fraud in an apartment in Batam Island.