Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian police have arrested dozens of suspects linked to online scam syndicates in the Philippines and are bringing them to Indonesia, National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto said here Tuesday.
“We have conducted clandestine operations to nab those scammers,” Seto told a youth conference, describing the operation as exclusive.
Indonesian officers arrested suspects accused of targeting victims in Indonesia. They are now being transported home, Seto said.
“We arrested dozens of suspects in the Philippines, and we are flying them back here,” he said.
Seto said the suspects allegedly operated in the Philippines and targeted Indonesians. He promised to disclose further details of the operation soon.
Speaking at the same event, Seto said he had moved swiftly to strengthen law enforcement while pursuing internal reforms since taking office as police chief on October 1, 2026.
Police are prioritizing crimes that concern the public, particularly young people, including drug offenses, online gambling, online scams, smuggling and human trafficking, he said.
Police assessments indicate that drug abuse is linked to most criminal activities, Seto said.
“Most crimes in our society are triggered by drugs. Our children, the younger generation, committed violence and burglary and joined brawls because of it,” he said.
Police are intensifying anti-drug operations, including raids on drug dens and clandestine laboratories in Aceh and North Sumatra, as well as seizures of boats used for drug smuggling, Seto said.
Police have seized about 10.5 metric tons of various drugs since Seto took office, working with the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), he said.
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Translator: Laily Rahmawaty, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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