GEORGE TOWN: Police have destroyed 3,197 gambling machines worth RM4.5 million that were seized during the Op Dadu operations in the state between 2015 and last year.
State police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said the machines were seized from 514 premises in all five districts in the state.
He said police arrested 988 individuals, including premises owners, organisers and gamblers, and seized RM151,041.
“A total of 307 gambling-related cases have been prosecuted in court,” Thaiveegan said at the Marine Police Region One base in Batu Uban today.
“The machines included simulator machines, jackpot machines, computers and laptops which were ordered to be disposed off by the court at the end of the trial proceedings.”
Thaiveegan said police continued to view gambling activities seriously and would go all out to curb it through daily raids and arrests.
”We are aware that gambling activities can lead to other criminal activities and cause unnecessary hardship to the people.
“For example, when a person loses while gambling, there is a possibility for him to resort to robbing to look for extra cash,” he added.