Singapore police seize $1.25 million in cash from raids over illegal World Cup betting
About $1.25 million in cash was seized during an island-wide operation on Monday (2 July) that saw 31 men arrested for their suspected involvement in illegal football betting.
The men, aged between 22 and 74, were arrested in simultaneous raids across 28 locations including those in Tampines, Ang Mo Kio, Chinatown, Balestier, Sengkang, Hougang, Bukit Batok, Boon Lay, Jalan Sultan, Sembawang and Orchard Road, said the police in a press release on Tuesday evening.
The suspects are believed to have placed and received illegal bets amounting to more than $4 million in the past two weeks, added the police.
Apart from the cash, computers, mobile phones and other documents such as betting records were also seized.
Police said investigations are ongoing.
“This operation was conducted as part of the police’s ongoing efforts to stamp out unlawful remote gambling, especially during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation & Intelligence) and concurrent Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Florence Chua.
Stressing that the police take a serious view against such activities, she added that they “will continue to take tough enforcement actions against those who flout the law, including those who assist remote gambling syndicates in any way”.
Under the Remote Gambling Act 2014, any person who provides unlawful remote gambling services for another shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 or be jailed for not more than five years or to both.
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