THE tactics of an online gambling syndicate hiding behind a computer company were exposed following the arrest of 161 individuals in the Op Soga XI raids on 19 premises in the Klang Valley last Thursday.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M Kumar said that 106 men and 55 women, including six foreigners aged between 19 and 62, were arrested in the raid.
"Also arrested were five local men who are believed to be directors and shareholders of the company involved.
"We also seized various equipment and devices believed to be used to operate and promote online gambling betting activities, including 182 computer units, 137 laptops and 152 mobile phones," he said.
"Initial investigations found that the syndicate developed its own application before promoting it to customers to enable betting on football matches and various other forms of gambling," he said.
Kumar said that although the application was used by customers from both home and abroad, the entire betting operation was controlled by a syndicate based in Malaysia.
"The syndicate handled a betting credit turnover estimated to reach RM27 million a day," he said.
According to him, initial investigations found that although the companies in question were registered under different names, they were all believed to be under the same syndicate.
"We also believe that this syndicate is not only focused on World Cup betting, but also offers various other forms of gambling," he said.
Kumar said that a total of 14 investigation papers have been opened involving Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
"The case is being investigated under Sections 4C and 4E of the Betting Act 1953, Section 4G of the Open Gambling Houses Act 1953 and Section 120B of the Penal Code," he said.
In a similar development, Kumar said, during Op Soga, which was from June 11 to July 20, the police carried out 649 raids and arrested 945 individuals, consisting of 835 men and 110 women.
"We also seized cash worth almost RM200,000 in addition to detecting betting value of RM35,148,815.88," he said.
Kumar said that, during the operation, the police, together with MCMC, also detected 637 websites that promoted gambling activities. – July 22, 2026
