Perak police have arrested six men suspected of running an online gambling operation targeting customers in Australia. The operation was allegedly based at a rented three-storey terrace house in Kamunting, a town in the Malaysian state of Perak.
The suspects, aged between 22 and 31, were detained during a raid at 8.05pm on October 20. Preliminary investigations indicate the operation had been active since July, using online platforms to promote gambling services to Australian customers.
Perak police chief Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said the group communicated with customers through Telegram and WeChat, while Australian bank accounts were used to receive payments.
Gambling packages were priced between AU$30 and AU$200. Police also found SIM cards linked to Australian telecommunications services in mobile phones seized during the operation.
Police seized 18 mobile phones, 10 computer monitors and six CPUs during the raid, with the equipment valued at approximately RM35,000.
The six suspects are believed to have worked as agents responsible for finding customers and promoting the gambling services. Police estimate they earned between RM6,000 and RM10,000 per month.
Investigators also believe the suspects routinely used the rear entrance of the rented property in an effort to avoid detection.
The case is being investigated under Sections 420 and 120(b) of Malaysia's Penal Code.
Police said cross-border syndicates are increasingly using communications technology to reach customers overseas and frequently changing operating locations to make detection more difficult.
Police are still determining how many customers were involved
