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Police have made a major breakthrough by busting an online gambling syndicate that handled up to RM27 million in daily bets during the height of the World Cup
According to the New Straits Times, the syndicate allegedly operated under the guise of legitimate businesses, including a computer company.
Authorities raided 19 premises across the Klang Valley, seizing 182 desktop computers, 137 laptops, 152 mobile phones.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M Kumar said 161 people were arrested, including five local men believed to be company directors and shareholders linked to the syndicate.
"We believe one of these people is the mastermind," he said yesterday, 22 July.
The raids were conducted under Op Soga XI, a joint operation involving the Bukit Aman, the Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor CID contingents, as well as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)
Kumar said preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate had developed its own betting application, which it marketed to customers for wagering on football matches and other online gambling activities.
He said while the application was used by customers in Malaysia and overseas, the entire betting operation was allegedly managed by the syndicate from within the country.
"Police estimate that the syndicate handled betting credit transactions worth about RM27 million daily.
"Based on our investigation they collected the most bets when the World Cup entered its second week onwards," he said.
China Press reported that the syndicate had allegedly been operating for at least six months before the raids.
Separately, police arrested 945 individuals and seized RM35 million during operations targeting illegal online gambling between 19 June and 20 July.
Authorities have identified 637 online gambling websites operating both locally and internationally, some of which have already been blocked.
