A significant increase of illegal online gambling workers from Indonesia in Cambodia marks the weakness of security cooperation between the two countries. Both governments seem to lack preventive action and coordination. In 2020-2023, the number of Indonesian citizens connected to scams and online gambling in Cambodia surged from 15 to 1.386 cases. Another statistics show that 60% of Indonesian workers in Cambodia involve in online gambling industry. These figures are alarming for both countries as well as other Southeast Asian nations. This issue should also be the concern of ASEAN as a regional bloc to manage the problem multilaterally.
The transboundary illegal workers problem can be considered as “a new form of human trafficking” in Southeast Asia. It involves digital platforms to allure potential employees who later are being forced to work in scam centres, such as in Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Human rights abuses are frequently associated with these illegal activities, which add to the list of various crimes related to this phenomenon. The borderless nature of the cyber world makes the problem complicated and has a wider impact on neighbouring countries. This results in more victims, either as a scammer or being scammed.
In terms of security partnerships countering human trafficking, Indonesia and Cambodia tend to take a reactive action rather than a preventive one. For the last few years, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had an active approach communicating with Cambodia once the problem emerged in public, such as in the moment of repatriation. Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has repatriated hundreds of workers in Cambodia since 2022. During these meetings, both sides committed to strengthening cooperation to fight problems related to online gambling. Yet, the number of illegal workers from Indonesia is still growing.
Jakarta and Phnom Penh already set the basis of cooperation in handling transnational crimes. During the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC) in 2023, Indonesia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with several ASEAN members, including Cambodia. The MoU shows that both states agreed in principle that threat of criminal acts should be handled collectively. This document, however, requires immediate action to materialize since online gambling-related problems need to be addressed soon.
Demand for stronger and intensified cooperation between both states is high. It is reflected in the statement of Chou Bun Eng of the National Committee for Counter Trafficking (NCCT) in Cambodia expecting more sharing of experiences and data regarding online gambling activities. It is clear that countries should focus on international cooperation to face these cross-boundary criminals since they have limited authority to control the flow of illegal online gambling business. For instance, the Indonesian government is unable to take down websites or close bank accounts associated with online gambling if the servers or banks are from abroad.
At the regional level, ASEAN leaders have recognized the misuse of technology for transnational crimes. Signing the Declaration on Combatting Trafficking in Persons caused by the Abuse of Technology show the member states are aware of this emerging issue. Similar to the MoU between Indonesia and Cambodia, the declaration should be followed by concrete actions by all relevant parties.
ASEAN indeed has a crucial role to prevent the spread of online gambling negative impacts. At the moment, some countries in Southeast Asia have become home bases of the major online gambling operators. Chinese also play a part as many of them are employers in this business. Head of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), Benny Rhamdani, gave a hint that an Indonesian citizen whose initial ‘T’ is an important person behind online gambling industry in Cambodia which successfully attract illegal workers from Indonesia. The complex relations among actors and strongmen involved in this current phenomenon make it impossible to be resolved by a single country. Thus, Jakarta and Phnom Penh have to take an active role to push deeper collaboration in handling transnational crimes, especially related to scamming and online gambling, to ASEAN’s forums.
Multi-actor collaboration should not only be limited to government-to-government relations. Participation of Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) can open the way for in-depth investigation on Southeast Asia’s online gambling networks. At times, they have a better understanding of the local situations and unique strategies to help individuals get out of the online gambling and scamming cycle. Ekapop Lueangprasert and Ozone are both examples of individual’s contributions to assist human trafficking victims linked to the illegal industry. Their role may support governments’ efforts to reveal business patterns. To conclude, strong partnerships and intense coordination are the keys to combat the transnational crimes of online gambling.
