SUBANG JAYA: A syndicate dealing with bets amounting to RM27mil daily was busted following a series of raids on 19 premises in the Klang Valley.
A total of 161 people were detained during the operation codenamed “Ops Soga” on July 16.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said those arrested comprised 106 men and 55 women, including six foreigners, aged 19 to 62.
“We also seized equipment believed to have been used to operate and promote online gambling, including 182 desktop computers, 137 laptops and 152 mobile phones,” he told a press conference at the Subang Jaya district police headquarters yesterday.
Comm Kumar said initial investigations found that the syndicate developed its own app before promoting it to customers, allowing them to place bets on football matches and other forms of online gambling.
“We believe the syndicate handled about RM27mil in betting credits daily.
“Although the app was used by customers both in Malaysia and abroad, the entire betting operation was controlled by the syndicate from within Malaysia,” he added.
Initial investigations found that companies were registered under different names, but are believed to be operating under the same syndicate.
“We believe the syndicate was not only focused on football betting during the FIFA World Cup but also offered various other forms of online gambling,” he said.
Police had opened 14 investigation papers involving cases in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Meanwhile, Comm Kumar said that throughout Ops Soga – held since the start of the World Cup – 649 raids were conducted while 945 people were detained.
“Nearly RM200,000 in cash was seized and we also uncovered RM35.1mil worth of betting transactions,” he added.
Comm Kumar added that 637 websites promoting online gambling activities were identified.
“Some of the websites have already been blocked, while action is being taken against the remaining sites,” he said.
