Illegal remote betting syndicate busted: 43 arrested in joint Singapore-Malaysia raids

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Malaysia police foiled an organised criminal group believed to be behind illegal remote betting operations, arresting 43 people aged between 34 and 82 for their suspected involvement.

Nine of them will be charged on Tuesday (Jul 2) for offences under the Gambling Control Act, with investigations against the rest ongoing, said the Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a news release on Monday.

During the joint operation conducted from Jun 30 to Jul 1, SPF officers from various divisions carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations, leading to the arrest of 37 men and two women.

At the same time, Malaysian police officers apprehended four Singaporean men.

SPF issued prohibition of disposal orders for seven properties with an estimated value of more than S$10.7 million (US$7.9 million). 

Cash, jewellery, luxury watches and more than 40 bank accounts with a total estimated value of nearly S$4 million were also seized for investigations and to prevent the suspected criminal proceeds from vanishing.

Electronic devices such as computers and mobile phones, and gambling-related paraphernalia were also taken by the police as case exhibits.