Key points:
- 16 arrested, 41 under investigation in coordinated Singapore-Malaysia crackdown
- Raids uncover over S$200,000 (US$148,000) in suspected criminal proceeds
- Offenders face up to S$500,000 in fines and jail terms under Gambling Control Act
As reported by The Straits Times, a joint police operation between Singapore and Malaysia has resulted in the arrest of 16 individuals linked to an illegal horse betting syndicate operating across borders.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) confirmed that 15 suspects, aged between 50 and 78, were apprehended in Singapore on 11 June during raids carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department and Special Operations Command. In Malaysia, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was also detained by officers from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP).
The operation led to the seizure of gambling paraphernalia, electronic devices and more than S$200,000 in suspected illegal proceeds, including funds held across three bank accounts.
Good to know: Illegal betting syndicates often rely on loosely organised networks of bookmakers, runners and punters, many of whom are elderly individuals with long-term ties to underground gambling
A further 41 individuals, ranging from 47 to 84 years old, are currently under investigation for suspected involvement in illegal betting activities, including roles as bookmakers and punters. Police also seized an additional S$17,000 in cash, along with mobile phones and betting records.
Under Singapore’s Gambling Control Act, gambling with unlawful service providers may result in a fine of up to S$10,000 or a six-month jail term. Operators can face fines of up to S$500,000 and imprisonment of up to seven years.
Deputy Commissioner Zhang Weihan, director of SPF’s CID, commended the cooperation between the two countries, stating that the authorities remain committed to dismantling transnational criminal groups involved in illicit gambling.