The Commissioner-General (KomJer) of the Timor-Leste National Police (PNTL) has instructed the Criminal Investigation Service (DSIK) to strengthen operations to track down the main organisers of illegal online gambling.
DSIK Director, Chief Superintendent João Belo dos Reis, said that regarding online gambling cases in Timor-Leste, the main organisers have not yet been identified and DSIK has now received instructions from the command to continue searching for them.
“The Commissioner-General has instructed DSIK to strengthen operations to track down the main organisers behind illegal online gambling cases and bring them into the legal process,” he said.
He said that DSIK and the intelligence services are currently strengthening joint operations following instructions from the command to track down and arrest the main organisers and continue the process through the courts so they can be held accountable for their criminal acts.
“To combat illegal gambling activities, the main organisers must be prosecuted because as long as they have not been captured, illegal gambling cases will continue to occur,” DSIK Director Chief Superintendent Reis said in Caicoli.
He said that based on the operational instructions they have received, it is clear that organised crime will not be given room to operate in Timor-Leste.
“This operation is not only in Dili, but across all municipalities,” he said.
In addition, he called on everyone to cooperate with the security authorities to combat illegal online gambling, particularly in identifying the main organisers.
On the other hand, Executive Director of NGO Belun, Luiz Ximenes, said that the main organisers behind online gambling cases are not likely to be ordinary people, but people with significant financial and human resources.
“These are people who know the law and manipulate these activities, but we believe that through the efforts of the police, the main organisers can be arrested and prosecuted according to the laws in force in Timor-Leste,” he said.
He said that the country is sacred land for those who conduct online gambling activities to exploit other people, and believes that one day they will face the consequences of their actions that have caused other people to become victims.
In addition, he said that this is a national problem and must be addressed collectively. It should not be seen only as the responsibility of DSIK, PCIC or the courts, but must be addressed collectively so that Timor-Leste does not become a base for organised crime.
