Cops cripple gambling syndicate raking in RM4.5mil monthly

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled a gambling syndicate which was raking in about RM4.5mil every month.

It is believed the syndicate used WeChat to promote their services, targetting punters in China.

City police chief Comm Datuk Mazlan Lazim said a team from its Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) raided a luxury apartment along Jalan Raja Chulan around 3pm on April 28.

"We arrested 17 suspects, including a woman, aged from 20 to 45, all China nationals.

"We checked the premises and seized a laptop computer, 116 mobile phones and two modems," he said in a statement on Saturday (May 2).

He said about an hour later, Dang Wangi D7 raided another unit on Jalan Raja Chulan and arrested two more men from China, aged 25 and 30.

"We seized two laptops and two mobile phones in the raid.

"We estimate that the total seizures are worth at least RM200,000," he said adding that further checks revealed all the suspects entered Malaysia on social visit passes.

Comm Mazlan said the syndicate was using WeChat to offer stock market and cryptocurrency gambling to gamblers in China.

"We estimate they made at least RM150,000 a day, which amounts to about RM4.5mil a month.

"Our investigations revealed they have been in operation for about two months and rented the luxury apartment for about RM6,000 monthly.

"The suspects have been remanded for 14 days to facilitate investigations under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.

Comm Mazlan advised the public not to get involved in such activities or they could face stern action in accordance with the law.

He also urged those with information on similar activities to contact city police operations room at 03-2146 0670 or police hotline at 03-2115 9999.