2-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) In a coordinated cross-border operation, law enforcement authorities from Singapore and Malaysia have dealt a significant blow to an organized criminal group believed to be behind illegal remote betting operations. The joint effort, conducted from June 30 to July 1, resulted in the arrest of 43 individuals aged between 34 and 82, suspected of involvement in the illicit gambling syndicate.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) announced on Monday that nine of the suspects will face charges under the Gambling Control Act on Tuesday, while investigations into the remaining individuals continue. The multi-pronged operation saw SPF officers from various divisions carry out simultaneous raids at multiple locations across the city-state, leading to the apprehension of 37 men and two women.
Simultaneously, Malaysian police officers arrested four Singaporean men believed to be connected to the criminal syndicate, underscoring the cross-border nature of the illegal betting operations.
In a bid to disrupt the financial networks supporting the syndicate’s activities, the SPF has issued prohibition of disposal orders for seven properties with an estimated value exceeding S$10.7 million (US$7.9 million). Additionally, cash, jewellery, luxury watches, and more than 40 bank accounts with a combined estimated value of nearly S$4 million were seized during the operation, aimed at preventing the suspected criminal proceeds from disappearing.
The authorities also confiscated electronic devices, including computers and mobile phones, as well as gambling-related paraphernalia, which will serve as crucial evidence in the ongoing investigations.
Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) and concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Zhang Weihan, highlighted the SPF’s unwavering commitment to combating organized crime, stating, “The SPF will continue to work with our partners to detect and dismantle criminal syndicates wherever they choose to operate.”
The crackdown on the illegal remote betting syndicate underscores the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in Singapore and Malaysia to tackle transnational organized crime. By working together and sharing intelligence, authorities aim to disrupt the operations of criminal groups that exploit the borders between countries to conduct illicit activities.
Illegal gambling operations not only pose a threat to public order but also facilitate other criminal activities, such as money laundering and tax evasion. The stringent penalties associated with such offenses, including fines of up to S$200,000 and imprisonment for up to five years for those convicted of conducting unlawful betting operations as agents, reflect the seriousness with which authorities view these crimes.
