KUCHING: Sarawak Head of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar disclosed another round of operation against illegal gambling was held from February 19 to 25.
During the period, CID Headquarters and their district counterparts conducted 75
successful gambling raids that
resulted in the arrests of 100 individuals.
He said the types of illegal gambling involved were illegal sales of lottery (4D) with 58 raids, cyber gambling (13 raids), gaming in a public place (two raids) and cockfighting with two raids.
According to statistics, the raids conducted by teams from CID Headquarters and the department at district level included five raids by CID Headquarters (conducted in Kuching and Kota Samarahan) whereas the CID district level included 15 raids conducted in Miri; 12 raids in Kuching; eight raids in Padawan; eight raids in Sibu; Sri Aman with six raids; Bintulu with four raids; Sarikei with three raids; two raids each in Kota Samarahan, Serian, Limbang, Saratok, Dalat while Bau, Kapit, Marudi and Betong conducted one raid each.
Efforts to eradicate online gambling continued with raids conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to online gamblers.
Thirteen raids were conducted in eight districts (Sibu, Bintulu, Miri, Kota Samarahan, Saratok, Sri Aman, Sarikei and Betong) that resulted in the arrests of 19 service providers and seizure of 15 mobile phones and cash amounting to RM3,356.
58 raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in 13 districts. The most number of raids were conducted in Miri (14), Kuching (12) and Padawan (8).
The raids resulted in the arrests of 63 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM9,813. Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries were also seized.
Two raids were conducted at cockfighting pits in Sibu and Saratok that resulted in the arrests of 10 individuals. Live and dead cockerels and various gambling paraphernalia were also seized.
Two raids were conducted against gambling in public places in Sibu and Limbang. Eight individuals were arrested for gambling “Holo” and various gambling paraphernalia and cash amounting to RM1,397 were seized.
Of the 100 arrested, 64 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 17 and 72 years old. Four foreigners were among those arrested.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance 1952, said Dev Kumar.
