Smashed: Jafri (red tie) holding a laptop used for gambling. With him is the department’s intelligence and special operations director Basri Othman (second from left). — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: An online gambling syndicate generating income of up to RM3mil a month masterminded by Chinese nationals operating in a luxury apartment area was busted by the Immigration Department (JIM).
The raids were carried out in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur and Ampang by the team from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division based on complaints and intelligence.
JIM deputy director-general (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha said 14 men and one woman aged between 19 and 39 were arrested in the raid, with nine of the men being Chinese nationals, including the syndicate leader.
On the syndicate modus operandi, he said they had been operating for about six months, with promotions done via random Whatsapp messages sent to customers in Australia, Hong Kong and China.
“The link will be sent to customers who agree to bet,” he said yesterday, Bernama reported.
He added that RM18,000 in cash, 33 mobile phones, 15 laptops, 11 monitors, six WiFi routers, five computers and a Toyota Alphard vehicle were among the items seized during the operations.
He said seven of the Chinese nationals had Social Visit Passes, while the other two had Special Passes, which are issued when the Social Visit Passes expire that are still valid.
He also said all the foreigners were detained at the Putrajaya immigration depot.
