Malaysian Police Crack Down on Illegal Online Gambling Operation, Arresting 34 Individuals

Crackdown on Illegal Online Gambling in Malaysia

Authorities in Selangor, Malaysia, successfully dismantled a large illegal online gambling network, resulting in the arrest of 34 people. The operation was discovered at a terraced house located in Sungai Buloh, where the group was conducting their activities.

Details of the Operation and Suspects

The group consisted of 29 men and five women, ages ranging from 19 to 33 years old. Interestingly, almost all those detained were foreign nationals, with only one Malaysian citizen among them. Investigation revealed that the syndicate members impersonated women on social media platforms to lure potential victims, subsequently directing them to gambling websites. All bets and withdrawals were coordinated through WhatsApp, with transactions processed via foreign bank accounts.

The police raid took place early in the morning of August 30, targeting what was believed to be the main operational center of the syndicate. According to Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar, the group operated daily between 9 am and 11 pm, reportedly earning up to MYR 2,500 (about USD 532) each day from their unlawful activities.

All arrested individuals have been detained for an initial period of four days starting August 31, with authorities attempting to prolong their custody. The illegal gambling operation utilized encrypted messaging apps and international banking channels to hide its illicit transactions from law enforcement.

Ongoing Efforts Against Illegal Activities in Malaysia

This arrest is part of an ongoing campaign by the Selangor police to clamp down on various unlawful enterprises in the region. In a separate effort, police have also detained 39 suspects in Subang Jaya and Rawang for running fraudulent investment schemes. These scams occurred between March and July of this year and targeted victims primarily in Hong Kong, Australia, and Singapore.

According to Datuk Shazeli Kahar, the perpetrators impersonated customer service agents on social media to convince victims to transfer money for fake investment opportunities. Most victims realized they had been scammed only after losing contact with the criminals post-payment. While investigations continue, preliminary estimates place the total financial losses due to these scams at around MYR 515 million (approximately USD 122 million).