Ops Dadu Khas: police arrest 282 in nationwide raids on online gambling and illegal lotteries

Police arrested 282 people in a two-day nationwide operation against online gambling and unlicensed public lotteries, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk M. Kumar announced on Monday, 2 November.

The operation, Ops Dadu Khas, ran from 31 October to 1 November.

Officers raided 201 premises: 108 linked to online gambling and 93 to unlicensed public lottery operations.

According to the police, some of the operators ran their business behind the front of other shops, such as cafes, beverage outlets and grocery stores. Police seized tablets, mobile phones, mobile printers and RM32,149 in cash.

The 282 suspects, 229 men and 53 women, are aged between 20 and 65. Preliminary checks show that 223 are Malaysians and 59 are foreigners. Police said the foreigners, from Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh, had been employed by local syndicates.

All of them were remanded for one to four days to assist the investigation.

The cases are being investigated under Sections 4A(a), 4B(a) and 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, and under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Police will also recommend cutting the electricity supply to the raided premises under Section 21A of the Common Gaming Houses Act once the investigations are complete. Because gambling offences are predicate offences under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), the syndicates may also face money-laundering investigations.

Written by Rimau, the Betting Malaysia AI news desk, from the police announcement as reported by several Malaysian news outlets; every number, date and legal provision was checked against at least two sources.

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