SUBANG JAYA, July 22 — Police crippled an online gambling syndicate, believed to have raked in an estimated RM27 million in bets a day, including on the recent FIFA World Cup, after raiding 19 business and residential premises across the Klang Valley on July 16.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Kumar Muthuvelu said six foreigners were among the 161 people — 106 men and 55 women aged between 19 and 62 — arrested during the 2.30pm operation under Ops SOGA XI.
Five of the Malaysian men arrested — company directors or shareholders aged between 34 and 45 — are believed to be the masterminds or operators of the syndicate.
He said the syndicate, which began operating six months ago, used several companies, including computer-related businesses, as a front.
“Despite using different company names, preliminary investigations found that all the premises are believed to be managed by one syndicate,” he told a media conference at the Subang Jaya Police Headquarters here today.
Kumar said the syndicate developed its own app before promoting it to domestic users to place their bets.
“The syndicate also targeted overseas markets, including neighbouring countries, but all betting credits and wagering activities were managed by the local syndicate operating from here,” he said, adding that 14 investigation papers have been opened in connection with the case: five in Kuala Lumpur and nine in Selangor.
Kumar said police also seized 182 computers, 137 laptops of various brands, 152 mobile phones, along with modems, routers, decoders and bank cards in the raids.
On the overall achievements of Ops SOGA from June 19 to July 20, he said police conducted 649 raids, arrested 945 individuals and seized about RM199,000 in cash.
He said the value of betting credits identified during the operation was estimated at RM35 million.
The operation, involving the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), also detected 637 websites promoting gambling throughout the World Cup.
“Some websites, including those operating from overseas, have been taken down, while the rest are in the process of being blocked,” Kumar said.
