JOHOR BARU: A massive sting operation between Malaysian police and their counterparts across the Causeway has uncovered a transnational betting syndicate.
Raids carried out in both countries led to the arrest of 43 syndicate members and seizures of over SGD14.7 million (RM51.3 million).
Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said Malaysian police began coordinating with the Singapore Police Force (SPF) between June 26 and July 1 to launch the operation dubbed Op Dadu Khas.
"The main objective of the operation was to cripple a Singapore-based illegal four-digit gambling syndicate that had set up counting centres in Malaysia.
"The operation saw 23 raids conducted simultaneously in both countries with the arrest of 39 men and two women from Singapore along with two local women," he told reporters today.
He said three of the raids were conducted in Malaysia where four Singaporean men and two local women believed to be the syndicate's "master agents" were arrested.
"All four men had prior records for illegal gambling, drugs and secret society involvement.
"The four men have arrest warrants issued by a Singaporean court for organised crime offences," he said.
Shuhaily said they also seized seven laptops, two printers, 15 mobile phones, and 76 notebooks together with illegal betting slips, three modems and one Singaporean bank card.
He added that the Singapore Police Force also conducted 20 raids at various locations and arrested 35 men and two women who were believed to have acted as agents and lottery punters.
"They also made seizures of more than SGD14.7 million during the raids.
"The four men arrested here were charged under Section 6(1) of the Betting Act with all of them pleading guilty.
"Two of them were fined RM3,000 each while the other two were fined RM2,500 each," he said, adding that the four Singaporeans had been handed over to the Interpol division to facilitate the execution of their arrest warrants.
Shuhaily said Malaysian police will continue to work with their counterparts in the republic and take stern action against anyone found organising, facilitating or placing illegal bets.
It was reported that Malaysian police and their Singaporean counterparts conducted an operation against a multi-million dollar transnational betting syndicate, resulting in the arrest of 43 suspects, including two women, on June 30 and July 1.
The republic's Public Affairs Department said in a statement that the Singapore Police Force had targeted syndicate members suspected of running illegal betting activities in both nations.
Following the operation, Singapore authorities issued a prohibition of disposal orders on seven properties on the island valued at more than S$10.7 million (RM37.4 million).
