Illegal online gambling, casino ring taken down in Malaysia

More than a dozen people, suspected of being involved in illegal online gambling and a casino syndicate, were recently detained.

The criminal case is from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where law enforcement arrested 15 individuals on Saturday. Confirmation about the illegal gambling raid emerged Monday, as announced in a report released by The Star. What's known so far is that police uncovered an illegal online gambling and casino ring. The criminal syndicate operated from a luxury residential unit in Bukit Jalil, one of the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur. The operation, conducted by the Ops Noda/Dadu officers, resulted in the arrest of a total of 15 suspects. According to Cheras district deputy police chief Supt Lim Chun How, at the luxury residential unit, law enforcement found a large quantity of gambling chips and a casino table. Playing cards, currency in cash, as well as electronic devices were also found and seized. Besides the gambling equipment and cash, police found and seized baggies containing a white powder, suspected of being cocaine. Per the report, the suspects arrested are between the ages of 21 and 44. Out of 15 suspects, there were 12 men and two women, all from Malaysia, as well as one woman from Vietnam. Law enforcement did not disclose what sums the illegal gambling syndicate operated with. Besides online gambling, the criminal ring engaged in illegal casino gambling. It also remains to be confirmed for how long the criminal syndicate operated before it was taken down by police.

The criminal group is being investigated for breaches of multiple laws. The Cheras district deputy police chief confirmed the criminal case is being investigated for breaches of Section 39A (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952 and Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act (CGHA) 1953. The two aforementioned laws are used by police in Malaysia together as a way to prosecute individuals who operate or participate in drug distribution and gambling syndicates. On the other hand, the authorities are also seeking charges for breaches of Section 4(1)(b) of the Entertainment (Federal Territory) Act 1992 and Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. The former law requires entertainment service providers in Malaysia to hold a license, while the latter is the country's primary law that punishes illegal gambling activities.