inp.polri.go.id - Batam. The Sub-directorate of Riau Regional Police General Criminal Investigation Directorate uncovers an international online gambling promotion network operating in Batam City.
In the raid, investigators arrested five suspects along with assets including cash, precious metals, and cryptocurrency suspected of being linked to online gambling activities.
The Director of General Criminal Investigation Directorate, Senior Superintendent Ronni Bonic explains that the first case reveal was coming from a public report on May 29th, 2026 following suspicious activity in Citraland Housing Complex.
After conducting an investigation, the team arrested five suspects with the initials ML, DC, RL, VW, and AL, who played different roles in running the online gambling promotion operation.
"Based on the investigation, suspect ML acted as the operational coordinator, recruiting, training, and supervising operators," he said on Thursday (6/25/2026).
According to him, the other four suspects were responsible for managing promotions through Telegram groups, overseeing digital advertising, verifying cryptocurrency transactions, and managing administration and payment for promotional services.
The five suspects were known to work under the control of a man with the initials AD, who is believed to be based abroad.
Based on the investigation, AD is suspected of moving between Cambodia, Thailand, and China and not residing in any particular country.
The modus operandi was to promote online gambling sites and applications through various digital platforms and hundreds of Telegram groups.
He explained that the promotions were aimed at people in Brazil to attract new players. The perpetrators were known to accept payments using USDT cryptocurrency, verified through the Tronscan application.
"Investigators successfully secured several pieces of evidence, including five laptops, two iPads, nine mobile phones, two smartwatches, several bank accounts and crypto assets, IDR 1.3 billion in cash, gold bullion and gold jewelry, and cryptocurrency assets worth 8,103 USDT, which are suspected to be related to online gambling promotional activities," he explained.
The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Nona Pricillia Ohei, added that this disclosure demonstrates their commitment to eradicating online gambling that utilizes digital technology and international networks. She also urged the public to make use of the 24-hour Police Hotline 110 to report any potential disturbances to public order and security.
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