TLDR
- Malaysian police arrested 282 people in a nationwide operation against online gambling and unlicensed lotteries.
- The raids covered 201 business premises and seized RM32,149 in cash.
- Syndicates used cafés, beverage outlets, and general stores as fronts, police said.
- Investigators are also examining possible money laundering under AMLA.
- Police will recommend cutting electricity to all 201 premises once investigations end.
Police in Malaysia arrested 282 people during a nationwide operation against online gambling and unlicensed lotteries. Officers also seized RM32,149 in cash during the raids.
The operation covered 201 business premises over the weekend. Investigators are now working to identify the syndicate leaders behind the activities.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar said the operation, called Ops Dadu Khas, ran from October 31 to November 1. It took place across the country, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
Of the premises raided, 108 were linked to online gambling. The other 93 were tied to unlicensed public lottery operations.
Who Was Arrested in Ops Dadu Khas
Kumar shared the details at a press conference at Menara 2 Bukit Aman. He said those arrested were between 20 and 65 years old. The group included 229 men and 53 women.
Of those detained, 223 were Malaysians and 59 were foreign nationals. The foreign suspects came from Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and Kumar said they had been employed by local syndicates.
The suspects have been remanded for one to four days for investigation. Police plan to use the findings to identify who is running the operations, not just the people caught on site.
Officers also confiscated equipment believed to be used for illegal gambling. This included tablets, mobile phones, and mobile printers.
Early investigations found syndicates operating under the names Winbox and Alibaba. Police are continuing to look into how these groups were organized.
Kumar said the syndicates used common businesses such as cafés, beverage outlets, and general stores to hide online betting activity. Operators could move between locations to avoid being detected.
He explained that a syndicate could run from one site, shut down, and quickly set up somewhere else. Because the betting took place online, the operation did not need a fixed location.
Police had been gathering intelligence to identify the businesses involved. Kumar said enforcement recommendations will go to local authorities once enough evidence has been collected.
Money Laundering Probe and Power Cuts Planned
Investigations will also proceed under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, known as AMLA. Kumar said offenses under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 can serve as predicate offenses for money laundering cases. That gives police a basis for examining the financial activities tied to the suspected gambling operations.
Those detained are being investigated under Sections 4A(a), 4B(a), and 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. Police are also looking at Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Once investigations are complete, police will recommend cutting the electricity supply to all 201 premises. Kumar said this recommendation will be made under Section 21A of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
The power cuts have not yet been carried out. Their timing depends on when the investigations are finished.
Kumar said police will keep stepping up action against all forms of unlicensed gambling. He added that officers will work with local authorities and other relevant agencies.
