JOHOR BARU: Johor police left no stones unturned in its fight to eradicate illegal online gambling and unlicensed 4-Digit outlets in the state.
Since Sept 22 , simultaneous crackdowns initiated under Ops Dadu Khas have been carried out in all 13 district police jurisdictions.
Police have identified the modus operandi used by the illegal gambling syndicates, operating from premises in housing estates, and fronting as legitimate businesses.
Johor police chief Commissioner Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said besides the simultaneous raids, further action had been taken including cutting off their electricity supply and cancelling their business licenses.
Ops Dadu Khas is an ongoing operation with the participation of Tenaga Nasional Berhad enforcement officers and also officers from local municipal and city councils.
The move was taken to ensure their operations were terminated, without the possibility of reopening in the future.
Yesterday, seven premises were raided, which saw seven arrests including one woman, aged between 22 and 60.
Also seized were six mobile phones, five mobile printers, and RM655.
Between Sept 22 and Oct 2, police have raided 226 premises and arrested 256 suspects, to facilitate investigations under Section 4A (a) and 4B (a) of the Open Gambling Houses Act 1953.
Out of the 256 suspects in police custody, 47 were women. It also included 31 foreign nationals.
It is learnt that the illegal gambling syndicates adopted a high-tech modus operandi, to elude the police dragnet.
The new method involves the use of mobile phones or tables and mobile printers.
For punters placing bets at unlicensed 4-D outlets, the digits will be keyed-in on the mobile phone, and a printed copy of the numbers placed will be given.
However, the betters are required to return to the premises to collect their winnings.
Thus, the syndicates would set up businesses with legitimate fronts to avoid suspicions.
Their usual choice for their illicit operations would be coffee shops, tuck shops or sundry shops, among others.
For online gambling, their 'clients' smartphones will be downloaded with the syndicate's online gambling applications using a dedicated Wi-Fi signal, usually comprising of portable Wi-Fi devices or dongles.
The syndicates have various gambling applications, while players are required to top-up their credit, via credit cards or online transfer, in order to gamble.
Winners will receive points when they win, but they are required to cash-in their winnings face-to-face.
This is where the legitimate business fronts are needed.