The Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) declared that it will not give room for organised criminal activities to operate in Timor-Leste because they can pose risks to the community.
Director of the PNTL Criminal Investigation Service (DSIK), Chief Superintendent João Belo dos Reis, said that organised crime involving online gambling has begun operating in Timor-Leste and police have already identified and taken action to stop these illegal activities.
“Police will not give space for organised criminal activities to operate in Timor-Leste,” he said.
Regarding the situation, he said that police are currently conducting operations to identify locations and people involved in online gambling activities and bring them into the legal process because the activities are illegal and pose risks to the community.
“We have identified organised criminal activities in four (4) locations in the capital Dili, including Tibar, Manleuana, Bebonuk and Metiaut. The activities involve online gambling,” DSIK Director, Chief Superintendent Reis, said.
He said that during operations at the locations they identified, police detained a total of 93 people and seized electronic equipment used to conduct online gambling activities.
“These people are Indonesian and Chinese nationals,” he said.
He said that police have detained the individuals and will continue the legal process through the courts because the activities they carried out are illegal.
On the other hand, Executive Director of Fundasaun Mahein (FM), Nelson Belo, said that police need to make greater efforts to monitor foreign nationals entering Timor-Leste and their activities to prevent similar situations from occurring again.
“The community must not fall into these traps because we know that our community faces great difficulties earning enough income to support their daily lives,” he stressed.
He said that police need to provide information about how online gambling operates so the community can understand it and avoid falling into these traps.
