IPOH: Simultaneous police raids on three illegal lottery "counting centres" with a combined estimated monthly turnover of RM5mil saw four suspected syndicate members arrested and more than RM110,000 in cash seized.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said the raids were carried out on Sunday (April 27) at three residential premises in Simpang Pulai, Kanthan Baru and Kuala Kuang.
“The four suspects, aged 50 to 60, are all locals.
“We are still determining if the three centres are connected, as we believe they are under the same syndicate,” he told a press conference at state police contingent headquarters here on Monday (April 28).
Comm Noor Hisam said the raids were carried out after a tip-off and police surveillance.
“A total of RM110,119 in cash, desktop computers, mobile phones, credit and debit cards, a mobile printer, and illegal lottery slips were confiscated.
“Preliminary investigations found that the syndicate has been active in Ipoh since early 2020.
“Checks revealed that all the suspects were acting on the direction of gambling agents directly linked to the organiser in the district,” he said.
He said sales in the illegal lottery were conducted via mobile phones to avoid detection, but intelligence gathering by police had successfully uncovered the activity.
“The agents also used residential premises as counting centres to process the proceeds from the illegal operations.
“The total collection at the three premises is estimated at RM5mil per month.
“Investigations also found that each agent was given a monthly credit limit of RM4mil per month by the organiser, serving as their betting limit for that month,” he said.
Comm Noor Hisam said police also successfully identified several sub-agents, agents and organisers of the syndicate who are still active in Ipoh.
He said concerted action would be taken to dismantle the syndicate.
“(Apart from these) three premises, we believe there are many more such centres,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 4A(a) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
He urged the public not to be involved in unhealthy activities and to channel any information on gambling to the police so that enforcement can be carried out.
