Johor cops nab 181 in gambling crackdown

JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested a total of 181 people, including eight foreigners, in a special operation focusing on gambling activities during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said the operation was carried out between Feb 5 and 15 to curb gambling activities organised by individuals or syndicates taking advantage of the festive season.

“During the operation, we carried out 23 raids where we arrested 181 suspects including 136 local males and 37 local women.

"We also arrested eight foreigners, three of them women. Those detained are aged between 20 and 60," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 19).

Comm Kumar said police also seized more than RM162,500 in cash and various types of gambling paraphernalia.

He said those arrested would be investigated under Sections 6(1) and 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Comm Kumar urged those with information on any criminal activity including gambling to contact the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or at 07-2212999.