KUALA LUMPUR — The Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has successfully dismantled 13 illegal gambling premises across Sabah and Selangor during a coordinated two-day (April 1 – 2) operation targeting outlets operating under the guise of legitimate entertainment centres.
The Director of the CID, CP Datuk M. Kumar A/L S. Muthuvelu said that the ‘Op Dadu Khas’ operation was the result of extensive intelligence gathering aimed at curbing the rise of illicit gambling activities.
“In Sabah, raid teams apprehended 15 local individuals—comprising 11 men and four women. The group included five premises supervisors and 10 players, with ages ranging from 20 to 68.
“All detainees have been handed over to the CID divisions at the Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, and Sandakan District Police Headquarters (IPD) for further investigation,” he said in a media statement yesterday.
He said further they had seized an array of hardware and electronic devices suspected of being used for gambling at Interactive Entertainment Centres (PHI) and Family Entertainment Centres (PHK).
Seized items included three simulator machines, 38 computer units and RM6,680 in cash
“The syndicate’s modus operandi involved hiding gambling activities behind valid Family Entertainment Centre and E-Sport licenses to evade detection,” he said.
Meanwhile in Selangor, 52 individuals had been arrested, consisting of 41 men and 11 women aged between 20 and 75. Of those detained, 19 were supervisors and 33 were players.
“The detained foreign nationals were 21 Indonesians, three Bangladeshis, a Pakistani, and a Myanmar national. The suspects have been referred to IPD Serdang and IPD Klang Utara,” said M. Kumar.
The haul in Selangor included RM9,873 in cash along with 95 tablets, 17 laptops, 17 simulator machines, 61 controllers/consoles and nine television units.
“Initial checks confirmed that none of the raided premises in Selangor held valid business or entertainment licenses at the time of the operation,” M. Kumar added.
