Malaysian police have arrested 46 people suspected of working as bookmaking agents in Johor during the Qatar World Cup.
Authorities said in a Wednesday statement that they had carried out a total of 45 raids since November 2021, arresting 46 men aged between 18 and 71 believed to be linked with betting syndicates for the World Cup. They had also seized MYR34,303 (US$7,800) in cash, 48 mobile phones and betting books from the syndicate, said to be operating with a “credit value” of MYR6.3 million (US$1.4 million).
Another five people were arrested in Klang Utara on suspicion of working as World Cup bookies, part of an operation titled Ops Soga IX which is focused on betting activities during major international tournaments.
“All of [the suspects] are held for further investigation,” said Johor police chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat.
“The success of this operation is largely the result of intelligence as well as complaints and information channelled by the public.”
