South Korean and Taiwanese authorities reported three separate investigations into illegal gambling and related money laundering on October 27. The suspected activity and several enforcement actions took place earlier, while the Korean police announcements and Taiwan's disclosure of a completed investigation are new.
Daegu Metropolitan Police said it had apprehended 80 people over a suspected operation that laundered KRW590bn (US$445.5m) for illegal gambling websites.
Investigators allege that 188 borrowed-name accounts received funds in about 270,000 transactions between January 2025 and January 2026. Of 23 suspected core members apprehended, 21 were detained.
Police also identified 13 alleged account suppliers and recruiters and 44 account holders, detaining one of the suppliers.
The group allegedly moved deposits between accounts around the clock, switched offices monthly and replaced accounts when banks or investigators blocked them. Police seized 149 phones, watches and other goods. They are pursuing recovery of KRW2.6bn in suspected proceeds.
In a separate case, Jeju police said they had apprehended 74 people suspected of operating 17 illegal gambling sites from 26 offices in South Korea and Southeast Asia. Twelve were detained.
Police said the sites served around 17,000 users and took KRW491.3bn in deposits between February 2021 and January 2026. Investigators identified 221 borrowed-name accounts and secured KRW16.4bn in assets pending confiscation. The sites have been blocked, while four identified suspects remain at large.
Taiwan details Cambodia-linked gambling money laundering case
Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau also disclosed a separate case involving alleged gambling-money transfers through tea businesses in Taichung and Cambodia. Twenty-one suspects were apprehended during the investigation.
Raids took place on March 18 and June 30. Police reported on October 27 that prosecutors had filed charges, without specifying the indictment date.
Taiwanese investigators said VPN access points in Taiwan helped overseas operators transfer funds for illegal gambling sites. They traced more than NT$569m (US$17.5m) in transfers during April and May 2025 and sought seizure of more than NT$16.54m from related accounts.
Prosecutors brought charges under gambling, money-laundering and organized-crime laws.
The three investigations are unrelated. Each concerns payment channels as well as illegal gambling activity, and the Taiwan case shows how an operation serving gambling websites can use premises and technical infrastructure in more than one country.
Earlier this month, South Korean authorities repatriated a suspect linked to a separate illegal gambling network from the UAE. That case also involved alleged operations across several Asian markets.
Jeju police said they had blocked all 17 sites and were examining high-volume, habitual users
