KUALA LUMPUR: After gambling joints have been smashed and their electricity supply disconnected, operators are now using coffeeshops as their front, says Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim.
He said police detected the new tactic where operators would disguise as customers at coffeeshops while using mobile devices to operate, to make their activities seemingly invisible.
“Gambling operators are believed to have moved to coffeeshops because their previous premises have been subjected to electricity supply cut by the police in collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
“They do so because they realise if they rent the premises as they have done before, we would cut off their electricity,” he said after witnessing the disposal of gambling-related items by the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters at the Alam Damai police station in Cheras yesterday.
Comm Mazlan said the use of coffeeshops also made it easier for the operators to flee if there were to be a raid.
He added that so far, 51 illegal gambling premises have had their electricity supply disconnected while another 24 premises would also be subjected to similar measures in the near future.
“We are identifying the owners of premises who rented their shops for gambling activities and owners of business licences who abuse them for gambling activities, and take action against them,” he said. — Bernama
He said police detected the new tactic where operators would disguise as customers at coffeeshops while using mobile devices to operate, to make their activities seemingly invisible.
“Gambling operators are believed to have moved to coffeeshops because their previous premises have been subjected to electricity supply cut by the police in collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
“They do so because they realise if they rent the premises as they have done before, we would cut off their electricity,” he said after witnessing the disposal of gambling-related items by the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters at the Alam Damai police station in Cheras yesterday.
Comm Mazlan said the use of coffeeshops also made it easier for the operators to flee if there were to be a raid.
He added that so far, 51 illegal gambling premises have had their electricity supply disconnected while another 24 premises would also be subjected to similar measures in the near future.
“We are identifying the owners of premises who rented their shops for gambling activities and owners of business licences who abuse them for gambling activities, and take action against them,” he said. — Bernama
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