Indonesia will review its visa-free entry policy for nationals of Southeast Asian countries following a series of arrests linked to alleged illegal online gambling and scam operations.
The review comes after authorities detained more than 500 people in two separate raids.
One operation targeted an alleged online gambling ring in Jakarta, while another focused on a suspected scam syndicate in Batam, in the eastern Riau Islands province.
Those arrested included nationals of Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar, all of which currently benefit from 30-day visa-free entry into Indonesia.
Chinese nationals were also among those detained, although China is not included in the waiver scheme.
Indonesia’s Immigration Chief, Hendarsam Marantoko, said the cases were a matter of “serious concern.”
Hendarsam said: “Cases of foreigners involved in illegal activities, including those coming from countries granted visa-free entry facilities, give rise to evaluation.”
Investigators found that many individuals allegedly involved in the Jakarta gambling operation entered Indonesia through visa waivers or obtained permits on arrival.
The case has added pressure on immigration authorities as Indonesia faces signs that transnational gambling and cyber-scam groups are shifting operations from other Southeast Asian jurisdictions.
Online gambling is illegal in Indonesia, which has maintained a strict enforcement position against digital betting platforms, payment channels and promotional activity linked to gambling.
The latest arrests also connect the issue to wider regional concerns over scam compounds and cross-border criminal networks, particularly following enforcement activity in Cambodia and Myanmar.
Hendarsam said immigration authorities have taken more than 6,700 administrative actions in recent weeks. These included more than 2,000 deportations and cancellations of stay permits.
The review does not automatically mean Indonesia will remove visa-free access for Southeast Asian nationals, but it signals closer scrutiny of entry controls where authorities believe visitor exemptions are being used to support illegal work, gambling operations or fraud activity.
Earlier this week, GGI reported that Indonesian police arrested 321 foreign nationals in Jakarta during a raid on an alleged network operating more than 70 online gambling sites aimed at overseas players.
Indonesia’s current enforcement activity includes both criminal investigations and immigration measures, including deportations and permit cancellations
