Source ASEAN Frontier

DILI, Timor-Leste: The growing wave of scam call centers emerging across Timor-Leste is not merely a serious public concern — it is creating a deep political dilemma for the government, fueling growing speculation that some powerful figures within the ruling establishment may be protecting or supporting those behind these operations.

In July 2026 until now, Timor-Leste’s Scientific Criminal Investigation Police (PCIC), together with the National Strategic Intelligence Service, identified scam call center operations around the city of Dili, including in other municipalities like Oecusse and Liquiçá.

Nearly 600 people were arrested during a police crackdown in Dili that was reported by ABC Australia — but not the mastermind.

In response to this case, the Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão directly accompanied the PCIC’ operations to dismantle and arrest the operator of these scam call centers.

Through this operation, the Prime Minister also affirmed and declared that there is zero tolerance for the practice of illegal activities in Timor-Leste.

The discovery of scam call center operations in several parts of Timor-Leste has sparked growing public concern, with many people taking to social media and news sites to voice their views and raise questions.

According to the director of human rights organization AJAR-TL, José Luis Oliveira, the growing invasion of online scam networks poses a serious threat to Timor-Leste’s future, including to the integrity and effectiveness of the country’s judicial system.

Besides that, FRETILIN Secretary General Mari Alkatiri affirmed in Timor Post News that PM Xanana Gusmão should identify who facilitates foreign nationals to operate scam call centers in Timor-Leste — not just target operators who may themselves be victims.

Alongside the scam and mafia online operations flourishing in Timor-Leste, CNRT members in the National Parliament (PN) confirmed that they would sign a letter of political affirmation to ask PM Xanana Gusmão, as well as the CNRT Party President, to dismiss the President of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira Alves, because the CNRT regrets that some political figures have been linked to the operation of scam call centers in the country.

The above situations have attracted the attention of everyone including civil society. As said by Luta Hamutuk in Journal Independent, this shows that CNRT wants to promote the Mafia to hold power.

However, Rafa News reported that PM Xanana Gusmão confirmed that he will not dismiss Agio Pereira from his role as Presidency of the Council of Ministers.

This dynamic creates controversy and contradictions. At the same time, the defendants in online fraud cases totaling 141 allegedly fled the territory of Timor-Leste — but the Executive Director of the Migration Service Assistant Commissioner of Police Jorge Monteiro said that he has not received official information about these individuals.

This leaves people asking: how did the accused manage to leave without Immigration knowing? And who helped them escape? This is not just about a weak border system — it is about accountability.

People deserve to know how this happened, who was responsible, and whether anyone will be held accountable. If not, we will sacrifice our sovereignty for the mafia to control.