Online gambling syndicate crippled, $39M properties and $6.5M cash frozen
Photo of cash seized from an organised criminal group: Singapore Police Force
An organised criminal group (OCG) that provided online gambling services has been crippled after police arrested 33 suspects for their involvement in the syndicate.
The police also had 36 properties worth $39 million and cash totaling $6.5 million belonging to the suspects frozen, the Singapore Police Force said in a statement on Monday (28 November).
During raids carried out on Sunday at more than 30 locations across Singapore, police arrested 24 men and nine women. Cash amounting to about $1.3 million, computers, mobile phones, fax machines and betting records were seized in the operation.
Preliminary investigations show that the OCG allegedly ran online lottery and horse betting sites. The OCG had a network of agents and punters who performed various roles including providing network support, collecting monies and tallying accounts.
In the past month alone, the suspects were believed to have collected bets totaling more than $2 million.
The suspects are being investigated for offences under the Organised Crime Act and the Remote Gambling Act. The police said that it was the first operation against an OCG since the Organised Crime Act was enacted last year.
Under the Organised Crime Act, a person convicted of being a part of a local OCG faces a fine of up to $100,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both.
Under the Remote Gambling Act, a person convicted of providing remote gambling service in Singapore faces a fine of between $20,000 and $500,000 and a jail term of up to seven years, or both.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Tan Chye Hee said, “OCGs are involved in serious criminal activities such as unlawful remote gambling and can pose a serious threat to Singapore’s safety and security.
“We will spare no efforts to disrupt and dismantle these organised criminal groups and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains.”
