National Police Seize Billions in Online Gambling Proceeds in Indonesia
Jakarta – The National Police have made a significant bust in the ongoing fight against online gambling in Indonesia. In a press conference held on February 21, 2025, the Police Directorate General of Criminal Investigation shared details of their latest arrest, which resulted in the confiscation of billions of rupiah. The operation targeted agents of the 1XBet gambling platform.
Seized Assets Include Foreign Currency
Director General of Criminal Investigation, Djuhandani Rahardjo Puro, revealed that the cash evidence included Singaporean and US dollars in various denominations. Authorities seized 826,000 Singapore dollars in 1,000-dollar bills, valued at approximately Rp10 billion; 7,200 Singapore dollars in 100-dollar bills, worth around Rp87.6 million; and 1,500 Singapore dollars in 50-dollar bills, equivalent to Rp18.2 million. Additionally, police confiscated Rp1.5 billion in Indonesian rupiah and 80,800 US dollars in 100-dollar bills, valued at about Rp1.3 billion.
Electronic and Luxury Items Confiscated
Beyond cash, the police seized numerous electronic items and luxury assets. These included dozens of ATM cards used for online gambling deposits, 31 mobile phones, 4 laptops, 2 computers, and ATM cards with passbooks. Luxury items confiscated from the suspects included 8 bags, 5 watches, a Kawasaki motorcycle, and two Toyota Fortuner cars, as well as a Honda CRV.
Details of the Arrests
Nine suspects were apprehended in two separate locations: Cianjur and Batam City, between November 2024 and February 2025. The suspects operated the 1XBet online gambling site, functioning as its agents in Indonesia. Djuhandani disclosed that the suspects in Cianjur were AW (31), RNH (34), RW (34), MYT (31), and RI (40). RI is described as a platinum member who spends approximately Rp5 billion per month on online gambling on the 1XBet site. All but RI acted as agents, financial administrators, and operators.
In Batam City, the apprehended suspects are AT (35), DHK (37), FR (31), and WY (30). Djuhandani clarified that the two groups operated independently, with the Cianjur arrests targeting the “Belklo” agent group, while the Batam group operated under the “Mamosa” banner. Both groups were connected to a single 1XBet server, which is hosted in Europe.
Legal Action and Penalties
The police are currently finalizing the case files before forwarding them to the Prosecutor’s Office. The suspects face charges under Article 303 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to gambling offenses. The maximum penalty for these charges is 10 years in prison.
Continued Efforts to Combat Online Gambling in Indonesia
This significant bust demonstrates the National Police’s commitment to combating online gambling in Indonesia. The action taken is part of ongoing efforts to protect citizens from the negative impacts of gambling. With substantial financial rewards seized and multiple suspects apprehended, law enforcement continues to make strides in their fight against illicit gambling operations.
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