Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 03:30 PM UTC

Indonesia arrests 21 foreign nationals in Bali online gambling raid

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Laily Rahmawaty, Uyu Liman

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Directorate of Immigration Supervision and Enforcement under Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections detained 21 foreign nationals in Bali for their alleged involvement in an international online gambling syndicate.

The suspects, comprising 12 Myanmar nationals, eight Vietnamese nationals, and one Chinese citizen, were arrested during a joint raid with the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office at a residential complex in Bali on Thursday morning.

Authorities took the individuals into custody over alleged immigration stay permit violations and their illicit gambling website operations.

Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko stated that the operation was part of regular surveillance targeting foreign nationals across the country, particularly in Bali.

"We consistently carry out immigration monitoring to ensure that all foreign nationals in Indonesia strictly adhere to prevailing laws and permit regulations," Marantoko said in a statement on Thursday.

He explained that officers had placed the target location under surveillance for several days leading up to the operation.

The raid commenced at 7 a.m. local time (GMT+8). Enforcement teams entered two houses suspected of serving as the syndicate's operational base after coordinating with neighborhood leaders, estate security, and property managers.

Officers detained eight Vietnamese nationals in the first property, while 12 Myanmar nationals and one Chinese national were apprehended in the second residence.

During the sweep, authorities confiscated an array of electronic devices allegedly used to facilitate the operations, including 36 personal smartphones, 29 operational mobile phones, 18 laptops, six desktop computers, and three tablet computers.

Subsequent investigations revealed that the suspects entered and resided in Indonesia using valid immigration documents, specifically Pre-Investment Visit Visas and Remote Worker Temporary Stay Permits.

Marantoko noted that the group is accused of running an illegal gambling website, with financial transactions reportedly processed through major Chinese digital payment platforms, including Alipay and WeChat Pay.

All suspects and the seized equipment have been transferred to the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office for further investigation and legal processing.

"We have zero tolerance for stay permit violations, particularly those tied to transnational crimes like illegal online gambling," Marantoko said.

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