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Hundreds arrested in illegal gambling raid in Malaysia
Three residential units in a four-story apartment block in Malaysia were recently revealed as an illegal online gambling hub. Hundreds were arrested during the raid.
The illegal activity was exposed during an integrated night raid by the Malaysian Immigration Department, in coordination with the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) and the General Operations Force.
According to Deputy Director-General (operations) of the Immigration Department, Jafri Embok Taha, the units in Pusat Bandar Putra Permai, Serdang, were registered under the names of three local individuals, as verified through utility bill records. Surveillance equipment, such as closed-circuit television cameras, was installed in all three units, enabling operators to monitor external movement.
The alleged organizer, believed to be a foreign national, fled the premises before authorities arrived. No arrests of the core operators were made during the raid. Equipment typically associated with online gambling, including tablets, computer monitors, chairs, and tables, was seized at the scene.
Authorities mention that the activities target undocumented immigrants who reside within the same apartment complex. Out of 741 foreign nationals screened during the operation, 496 were identified as illegal immigrants. These individuals were thereafter transported to the Semenyih Immigration Detention Depot for processing and investigation.
The Malaysian authorities’ approach reflects a broader effort in Southeast Asia to dismantle such operations through inter-agency cooperation and targeted enforcement.
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