Malaysian Authorities Crack Down on Clandestine Gambling Dens
The operation came after a month of intelligence gathering
Malaysia’s Immigration Department has detained 15 foreign nationals after raiding four suspected gambling premises in Pandan Jaya.
This happened in an operation officials said began at 12.01am on Saturday after a month of intelligence gathering prompted by public tip-offs according to The Star.
Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, the department’s director-general, said the group included six men and nine women aged 21 to 38.
Shaaban said, “Among those detained were a Bangladeshi man and an Indonesian woman, who are believed to have worked as the premises’ caretakers and cashiers.”
Tight Controls, But Not Enough
The Star reported that the outlets admitted only regular or known customers and used CCTV and magnetically locked metal doors operated from inside.
Bernama said the operation was driven by intelligence from the Putrajaya Immigration Headquarters’ Intelligence and Special Operations Division.
Officials said checks found the detainees had allegedly misused their passes, overstayed or lacked valid documents to remain in Malaysia. Immigration officers seized seven Indonesian passports, 31 tablets, 15 mobile phones, an employee roster, tenancy copies and RM1,674 in cash believed to be gambling proceeds.
Five local men were also issued notices to assist with the investigation, while the foreigners were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further questioning.
Enforcement Pressure Continues
Zakaria said the department would keep stepping up operations to curb activity that breaches Malaysian law.
“The premises were also equipped with closed-circuit television cameras to monitor customers and the presence of enforcement authorities, while access was controlled by magnetically locked metal doors from inside.”
A recent Macau operation saw two mainland Chinese men detained over allegations that they helped an off-site bettor place proxy wagers from a Cotai casino by livestreaming an electronic baccarat game.
