Jurnal Sipakatau
Vol. 3 No. 6 (2026): October

Trafficking of Indonesian Nationals into Southeast Asia’s Online Scam and Gambling Compounds: Recruitment, Human Insecurity, and the Limits of ASEAN Regional Resilience

Muhammad Syaroni Rofii (Universitas Indonesia)
Muhamad Syauqillah (Universitas Indonesia)
Musleh Musleh (Universitas Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
31 Oct 2026

Abstract

Human trafficking in Southeast Asia increasingly takes the form of recruitment into online scam and gambling compounds, where victims are coerced into cyber-enabled fraud. Indonesian nationals are among those affected, yet few studies trace the recruitment chain or assess the regional response from the standpoint of a country of origin. This study examines (1) how Indonesian nationals are recruited into these operations, (2) which vulnerabilities, analysed through the economic, personal, and community dimensions of human security, make recruitment effective, and (3) how far Indonesian and ASEAN responses show regional resilience, assessed through four indicators: prevention and early warning, victim identification and protection, cross-border enforcement coordination, and monitoring and accountability. A descriptive qualitative design was used. Primary data come from in-depth interviews (2023–2025) with Indonesian police attachés, a Criminal Investigation Agency officer, and a trafficking-victim advocate, conducted in Jakarta and at Indonesian missions in Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. The interviews were analysed thematically and triangulated with official statistics, intergovernmental reports, and ASEAN documents. The findings show that recruitment is mediated by social media job advertisements and brokers who make departure look regular; that vulnerability is associated with graduate unemployment, wage aspirations, and the inability to verify offers rather than with low education alone; and that victim identification is hindered by the apparent voluntariness of departure. ASEAN instruments exist, but evidence of implementation and monitoring remains thin. The study contributes an operationalised human security–resilience framework and proposes pre-departure verification, indicator-based screening, and platform accountability as priorities.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

Sipakatau

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Computer Science & IT Engineering Environmental Science Health Professions Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Library & Information Science Mathematics Nursing Physics Social Sciences Veterinary Other

Description

1. Social Sciences, Economics, Psychology, Tourism, and Community Development Coaching and mentoring for leadership, performance improvement, and community empowerment Psychological and behavioral dimensions of community programs including motivation, behavior change, and ethics Volunteerism ...