Indonesian immigration chief Hendarsam Marantoko said the government was reassessing visa waiver arrangements following a surge in cases involving foreign nationals allegedly engaged in cyber fraud, online gambling and other illicit activities.

Authorities last week detained more than 500 suspects in two separate operations targeting an online gambling syndicate in Jakarta and a scam network in Batam in the eastern Riau Islands province, officials said.

Those arrested included nationals from Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos and Myanmar, all of which currently benefit from Indonesia’s 30-day visa-free entry scheme. Chinese nationals were also among those detained, although China is not covered by the waiver policy.

“Cases of foreigners involved in illegal activities, including those coming from countries granted visa-free entry facilities, give rise to evaluation” of existing policies, Hendarsam said in a statement released by immigration authorities.

Investigators found that many suspects linked to the Jakarta gambling operation had entered Indonesia either under visa-free arrangements or through permits issued on arrival, according to officials.

Indonesia has intensified immigration enforcement in recent weeks as authorities seek to curb transnational cybercrime and illegal online betting operations, which have proliferated across parts of Southeast Asia.

Hendarsam said immigration authorities had conducted more than 6,700 administrative enforcement actions in recent weeks, including over 2,000 deportations and revocations of residence permits tied to immigration violations and criminal investigations.

Southeast Asian governments have faced mounting pressure to crack down on cross-border scam compounds and online gambling syndicates, many of which operate through regional networks involving foreign workers and digital financial transactions.

The 40-year-old suspect is alleged to have headed a hacking organization operating from overseas bases, including Thailand, that targeted websites of low-cost mobile carriers and other companies between August 2023 and April 2025, according to a statement from South Korea’s Justice Ministry.

The suspect was arrested in Bangkok during an Interpol-coordinated operation and transferred to South Korea through cooperation between Thai authorities and Seoul’s National Police Agency. He arrived at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday, officials said.

Investigators allege the group used illegally acquired personal data to infiltrate financial and cryptocurrency accounts before making unauthorized withdrawals from victims.

South Korean media reports said the alleged victims included celebrities, senior business executives and startup founders. Jungkook, a member of global K-pop group BTS, was among those reportedly targeted.

According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper, Jungkook’s securities account identity was allegedly compromised and shares in HYBE valued at 8.4 billion won ($5.6 million) were transferred without authorization.

The report said the singer avoided financial losses after payment suspension measures were implemented immediately.

South Korean authorities said an alleged accomplice, a 36-year-old Chinese national arrested in Thailand in May 2025, had already been extradited to South Korea in August last year and was indicted the following month. Court proceedings against him remain ongoing.

South Korean prosecutors and investigators traveled to Thailand in July 2025 for meetings with Thai police and prosecutors as part of the cross-border investigation, according to officials.

The case highlights growing regional cooperation among Asian law enforcement agencies against cybercrime networks that increasingly operate across jurisdictions and target digital financial systems, cryptocurrency holdings and personal data infrastructures.

The suspects were detained at an office building in the Indonesian capital after police investigations linked the group to an online gambling enterprise that had allegedly operated for the past two months, officials said at a press conference.

According to Wira Satya Triputra, director of the Indonesian police force’s crime investigation unit, those arrested included 228 Vietnamese nationals, 57 Chinese citizens, 13 people from Myanmar, 11 from Laos, five from Thailand and three from Cambodia.

Wira said 275 of the detainees were being investigated under Indonesia’s criminal code provisions on gambling, which carry a maximum prison sentence of nine years. He added that most of the suspects were aware they had entered Indonesia to participate in online gambling activities primarily targeting customers outside the country.

Online gambling is prohibited in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, where authorities have stepped up enforcement efforts against digital gambling platforms and cross-border criminal syndicates amid concerns over financial fraud and illicit online operations.The arrests marked the second major enforcement operation involving foreign nationals in two days.

On Friday, Indonesian immigration authorities detained 210 foreigners on Batam island in Riau Islands province over allegations they were involved in online investment scams operating from an apartment complex near Singapore.

Interpol Indonesia official Untung Widyatmoko said there had been a recent shift in regional online gambling operations from Cambodian cities into Indonesia, reflecting changing enforcement patterns across Southeast Asia.

The latest raids underscore growing regional concern over organized cybercrime networks that have increasingly used Southeast Asian countries as operational hubs for online gambling, fraud and investment scams targeting international victims.

Efforts to expand digital literacy and inclusion in Côte d’Ivoire are gaining momentum as civil society organizations seek to address persistent gender gaps in access to technology and online opportunities, according to a United Nations-backed feature highlighting grassroots initiatives.

Aminata Savané, Vice-President of Centre Marée de Lumière, has been at the forefront of these efforts through a training initiative aimed at improving digital skills among women and young people. Despite widespread smartphone use in the country, she said many individuals lack the knowledge required to leverage digital platforms for economic and social advancement.

Since its launch in 2021, the organization’s Digital O’Féminin Tour programme has trained more than 600 women and 200 teenagers in areas including digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and online engagement. Participants have gone on to establish small businesses, develop content for digital platforms, or pursue further training, reflecting growing interest in the digital economy.

Savané said the challenge extends beyond access to technology, describing it as a broader issue of awareness and empowerment. While many users are active on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, they often lack the understanding needed to translate this activity into economic opportunities.“The challenge is the lack of information,” she said, noting that digital engagement remains largely limited to consumption rather than production or entrepreneurship.

“They scroll the internet but they don’t know that by creating an online activity they can make a profit.”The programme integrates technical training with leadership development, an approach Savané said is critical to overcoming social and psychological barriers. In addition to teaching digital skills, the initiative fosters peer support networks intended to encourage participation and confidence among women.

“We’re also creating a safe space, a sisterhood for these women because we’ve realized that, very often, they share the same reality,” she said. “You can impart all the knowledge in the world, but if you can’t activate what springs people into action, it won’t work.”The initiative was designed in response to disparities in digital access and usage between men and women in Côte d’Ivoire.

Savané said addressing these gaps requires challenging entrenched gender stereotypes as well as misconceptions that may limit women’s engagement with technology.Alongside efforts to promote inclusion, the programme also addresses risks associated with digital environments, particularly for younger users.

Savané highlighted concerns related to cybercrime and unsafe online practices, noting that digital literacy must include awareness of potential threats.As part of her broader advocacy work, she has collaborated with UNICEF and the Jeunes Blogueurs CI community to develop a guide on safe internet use for young people. The initiative aims to provide practical guidance on navigating digital spaces securely, reflecting growing concern over online safety in emerging digital ecosystems.

“When I was younger, I found myself in the middle of a digital world without any guidelines,” Savané said, adding that the guide was designed to help younger generations avoid similar challenges.Her work also includes advocacy for systemic change at the policy level. Savané has called for digital literacy to be incorporated into Côte d’Ivoire’s national education curriculum as a standalone subject.

She said such an approach should extend beyond basic computing skills to include online safety, data protection, digital identity, personal branding, and responsible use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.The proposal reflects a broader recognition among policymakers and international organizations that digital skills are increasingly essential for participation in modern economies.

Integrating these competencies into formal education systems is seen as a potential pathway to reducing inequality and supporting long-term economic development.Savané’s contributions have received international recognition. At the end of 2025, she was awarded at the Young Activists Summit held at the United Nations in Geneva, an event supported by a range of international organizations including UN Human Rights, UNESCO, and UNFPA, as well as civil society and private sector partners.

The initiative underscores the role of local organizations in addressing global challenges related to digital inclusion. While infrastructure and access to devices have improved in many regions, the case of Côte d’Ivoire highlights the importance of complementary investments in education, awareness, and capacity-building.

As digital technologies continue to reshape economic and social landscapes, efforts such as the Digital O’Féminin Tour illustrate how targeted interventions can help bridge gaps in participation. The focus on both skills and empowerment reflects an evolving approach to digital development, one that prioritizes not only access but also meaningful and safe engagement.

Li, a former chairman of the board at Huione Pay, is accused of being a core member of a criminal syndicate linked to Chinese-Cambodian businessman Chen Zhi, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Chen was extradited to China in January and is currently in detention, authorities said.The case is part of a broader international crackdown on transnational fraud networks operating across Southeast Asia.

The United States said last October that it and the United Kingdom had taken action against Chen’s Prince Group, describing it as a criminal enterprise involved in online investment scams. U.S. authorities also accused the Huione Group of laundering proceeds from such schemes, as well as cyber heists linked to North Korea.

According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Huione Group allegedly laundered at least $4 billion in illicit proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025.

Reuters could not seek comment from Huione, which has since been dissolved. A U.S.-based representative for Prince Group did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours.

Cambodian government spokesperson Touch Sokhak said China had sent experts to assist local authorities in the investigation, which ultimately led to Li’s arrest and extradition.

“This shows Cambodia’s will to clear out online scams and that Cambodia is not a safe haven for scam criminals,” Sokhak said.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing would continue to work with Cambodia to combat cross-border telecommunications fraud, highlighting deepening cooperation between the two countries in tackling organised financial crime.