Singapore and Malaysian police recently joined forces to combat illegal horse race gambling through a cross-border operation, successfully arresting 16 suspects and seizing a large amount of suspected criminal proceeds. This joint enforcement action is an important measure in deepening cooperation against transnational gambling between the two countries, targeting a long-active underground betting network.
According to The Straits Times, the Singapore Police Force (SPF), led by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Special Operations Command, conducted raids at multiple local sites, arresting 15 individuals aged between 50 and 78 involved in the case. Additionally, a 53-year-old Singaporean man was arrested in Malaysia by the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP), further confirming the cross-border nature of the gambling network.
The police seized a large amount of gambling-related items during the operation, including mobile phones, betting records, electronic devices, and over 200,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 148,000 US dollars) in suspected illegal earnings, with some funds stored in three bank accounts. Another 41 individuals aged between 47 and 84 are under investigation, suspected of participating in betting, collecting bets, or providing gambling services.
The investigation revealed that the illegal gambling group operates on a loose but stable structure, including organizers, peripheral runners, and a network of long-term gambling participants. Notably, the individuals involved are mostly middle-aged and elderly, indicating that underground gambling has penetrated into mature groups and formed a fixed participation circle.
The Singapore Police Force emphasizes that any involvement with illegal gambling will face severe penalties. Under Singapore's Gambling Control Act, those participating in illegal gambling activities can be fined up to 10,000 Singapore dollars or imprisoned for up to six months, while operators of illegal gambling businesses could face fines up to 500,000 Singapore dollars and up to seven years of imprisonment.
Regarding this successful operation, the Deputy Director of the Singapore Criminal Investigation Department, Zhang Weihan, highly praised the collaboration with the Malaysian police. He stated that the two countries will continue to strengthen cross-border law enforcement cooperation, rigorously combating increasingly covert and organized illegal gambling groups to safeguard regional security and public interests.
