A cockfighting session being streamed live from a foreign country for gamblers to bet on at one of the raided premises.
KUCHING: One hundred and fifty individuals, including 37 women, were arrested over the past week during a record number of police raids against illegal gambling in the state.
The suspects, aged between 16 and 82, were nabbed by police during 78 raids conducted across the state, with police also confiscating over RM35,000 in cash.
State CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar said those detained were found to be publicly promoting illegal lottery (4D), running illegal online gambling, operating illegal gambling machines, and illegal cockfighting.
“It was another record week and weekend for police in the war against illegal gambling in the state. Illegal 4D and cyber gambling operators felt the brunt of the law as police conducted dozens of raids throughout the state.
“Over the past week from July 17 to 23, the state police conducted 78 successful raids that resulted in the arrests of 150 individuals and seizure amounting to RM35,189,” he said in a statement issued on Monday.
According to Dev Kumar, over the two-day weekend alone on July 22 and 23, a total of 43 raids were carried out that resulted in 45 arrests.
The raids, he disclosed, were conducted in Kuching, Padawan, Sibu, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sarikei, Sri Aman, Saratok, Bintulu, Limbang, Julau, Kapit, Lubok Antu, Bau, Lawas, Simunjan, Mukah, Marudi, Meradong and Betong.
He also noted that out of the 78 raids, 71 were against illegal 4D, four against cyber gambling, and three against illegal cockfighting.
“The 71 illegal 4D raids, focusing on Kuching, Padawan and Miri areas, resulted in the arrests of 86 individuals and seizure of RM23,522. Mobile phones, portable, printers, calculators, betting slips and stationery were also seized during the raids,” he said.
Apart from illegal 4D, efforts were also made to rid the state of the remnants of cyber gambling, especially in Kuching, Padawan, Miri and Lubok Antu, which saw the arrests of 30 individuals as well as seizure of 37 computers and RM11,494 cash.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance 1962.