The Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) have joined forces in tackling a transnational illegal betting ring. 41 men and two women, aged between 34 and 82, were arrested for their part in the criminal organisation, being involved in online illegal betting operations.
According to news on the SPF's official website, the joint operation was held from 30 June to 1 July 2024, with officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Police Intelligence Department, Special Operations Command and Land Divisions involved.
The raids had been carried out simultaneously across both nations, in which 37 men and two women were arrested in Singapore while the RMP Criminal Investigation Department arrested four Singaporean men in Malaysia.
Seven properties with an estimated value of S$10.7m (US$7m), plus cash, jewellery, luxury watches and more than 40 bank accounts with a total estimated value of S$4m (US$2.9m) were seized for investigation. Other seized items included computers and mobile phones, and gambling-related paraphernalia.
Out of the arrested suspects, eight men and one woman will be charged for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022 while further investigations are still ongoing for the other suspects.
Recently, Singapore lowered the threshold deposit of its due diligence checks from S$5,000 to S$4,000 to combat money laundering and terrorism financing. This came after a study found that the casino sector is vulnerable to money laundering and similar crimes.
