May 09, 2026: Indonesian police conducted a significant operation in Central Jakarta resulting in the arrest of 321 foreign nationals, primarily from Vietnam, for alleged involvement in banned online gambling.

The suspects were apprehended in an office building within the city, as law enforcement continues to target both online gambling and international criminal syndicates operating within Indonesia, which strictly prohibits such activities.The detainees included 228 individuals from Vietnam, 57 from China, 13 from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, 5 from Thailand, and 3 from Cambodia.

According to Wira Satya Triputra, the director of the Indonesian police force’s crime investigation unit, these individuals have been operating their online gambling business for two months.

Out of the total detainees, 275 face charges under Indonesia's criminal code related to gambling, which carries a maximum sentence of nine years.Triputra noted that most of the foreigners were aware of their intent to establish and run online gambling operations in Indonesia, targeting international customers.

Furthermore, there is an observed trend where online gambling operations are migrating from Cambodian cities to Indonesia, as highlighted by Untung Widyatmoko, an official with Interpol Indonesia.This operation marks the second large-scale arrest of foreign nationals in two days.

On Friday, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 210 individuals on Batam island, located approximately 20 kilometers from Singapore, for allegedly participating in online investment scams.