Jakarta – A major police operation in West Jakarta has uncovered a large-scale international online gambling network, resulting in the arrest of 320 foreign nationals.
The case has sparked urgent questions from legal experts regarding critical lapses in Indonesia’s immigration control systems.
The suspects, who were operating from an area in Hayam Wuruk, are now being processed at multiple immigration detention centers across the capital.
According to Police Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said 150 suspects are held at the Immigration Detention House, 150 at the Central Immigration Directorate, and 21 at the West Jakarta Immigration Office, as authorities verify identities and trace transnational links.
A Question of How Many More
According to criminal expert, Hery Firmansyah, the case points to fundamental cracks in the system that extends well beyond policing and prosecution.
“This is not just about online gambling,” Firmansyah said.
“It raises a big question: how many more foreign nationals are entering Indonesia under similar circumstances, only to cause legal problems later?” He continued.
He argues that hundreds of foreign suspects in one network reveals just how badly immigration has failed as the first line of defense.
He is persuading the government to conduct a full audit of entry supervision, document verification, and onshore monitoring of foreign citizens.
Calls for Immediate Reform
Firmansyah warned that without decisive action, Indonesia risks becoming an international hub for cross-border crime.
“If something is wrong, the fix must be done immediately. If not, cases like this will keep happening,” he stressed.
This case highlights an ongoing problem in Southeast Asia: porous immigration oversight can allow organized crime to thrive, even in nations praised for economic growth.
The government now faces pressure to prove it can seal the gaps before more illicit networks take root.
“This case opens a big question: how many more foreign nationals are entering Indonesia under similar circumstances, only to cause legal problems later?” Stated Hery Firmansyah, legal expert.
Source: inilah.com, herald.id
Feat Image: rri.co.id
