16 Arrested and Over 40 Under Investigation as Authorities Seize More Than S$200,000
A sweeping joint operation between Singapore and Malaysia has successfully disrupted a cross-border illegal horse betting syndicate, leading to 16 arrests and 41 active investigations, according to reports from The Straits Times. The crackdown, conducted on 11 June, underscores both nations’ intensifying efforts to combat organised gambling networks exploiting legal loopholes and vulnerable demographics.
Coordinated Raids Yield Major Seizures
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) revealed that 15 individuals aged 50 to 78 were detained in multiple raids across the island, carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department and Special Operations Command. Simultaneously, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in Malaysia by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), highlighting the operation’s transnational coordination.
Authorities seized gambling paraphernalia, betting records, mobile phones, and over S$200,000 (US$148,000) believed to be proceeds from illegal betting. Three bank accounts containing suspicious funds were also frozen.
Expanding Investigation: 41 More Under Scrutiny
The investigation has now widened, with 41 other individuals, aged 47 to 84, being questioned for suspected involvement. These individuals are believed to have participated as bookmakers, runners or punters, forming part of a loosely structured but effective underground network. Many of those involved, according to law enforcement, are elderly citizens who have maintained ties to illicit gambling over the years.
This operation is not isolated. Such syndicates are common in Southeast Asia, often using coded language and informal cash networks to operate under the radar. Singapore and Malaysia’s collaborative crackdown reflects a growing emphasis on transnational cooperation to dismantle deeply entrenched betting operations.
Heavy Penalties Under Gambling Control Act
Singapore’s Gambling Control Act, which came into effect in 2022, significantly strengthened enforcement measures against illegal gambling. Under the Act:
Punters who gamble with unlawful service providers can face fines up to S$10,000 or six months’ jail.
Operators face steeper penalties, with fines reaching S$500,000 and up to seven years’ imprisonment.
The law also empowers authorities to freeze assets and seize digital evidence, closing gaps in previous legislation.
Authorities Vow Continued Pressure
Deputy Commissioner Zhang Weihan, Director of CID at SPF, commended the cross-border coordination, reaffirming both nations’ resolve to pursue and dismantle organised criminal networks. “We will continue to collaborate with our foreign counterparts to curb these illegal activities and bring offenders to justice,” he stated.
This latest operation adds to a growing number of regional crackdowns as Southeast Asian governments grapple with the rise in unregulated online and offline gambling, often intertwined with money laundering and transnational crime.
As investigations continue, the joint enforcement effort serves as a stark warning to illegal operators that the cross-border nature of their operations no longer guarantees impunity.
