Jakarta. The Indonesian Police have seized Rp 59 billion ($3.5 million) in cash and arrested five suspects linked to an online gambling syndicate that used at least 17 companies to funnel betting funds, authorities said on Wednesday.

The crackdown followed a series of operations launched in early December, during which police also blocked 21 gambling websites, said Brigadier General Himawan Bayu Aji, director of cybercrime at the National Police.

“These websites offered a wide range of games, including slots, casino-style games, football betting, and others,” Himawan told a press conference in Jakarta.

Police carried out undercover operations to dismantle the network, including placing deposits on suspected gambling platforms to trace financial flows. Investigators later identified 17 companies believed to have been deliberately established to facilitate online gambling transactions.

“Of the 17 companies, 15 were used to process player payments or deposits as first-layer intermediaries, while two companies actively served as repositories for the overall online gambling proceeds,” Himawan said.

The names of the companies allegedly involved were disclosed using initials only.

Police have named five suspects, aged between 29 and 45, each playing a different role in the operation. The arrests were made in separate operations last month.

Authorities allege that some of the suspects set up fictitious companies to launder criminal proceeds. They face charges under Indonesia’s anti–money laundering laws, which carry a maximum prison sentence of up to 20 years.

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