KUCHING: Operations against illegal gambling activities in the state continued last week as the Sate Police CID intensified its raids to free the state of gambling activities, disclosed State CID chief, SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar.
He said from 26 February to 4 March, the State CID conducted 47 successful gambling raids that resulted in the arrest of 54 individuals.
The types of gambling activities involved were 26 raids on illegal 4D activities and 21 raids on cyber gambling.
The raids were conducted by teams from CID HQs and district CIDs.
State CID HQs conducted 19 raids in Kuching, Sarikei and Lubok Antu while nine raid were conducted in Bintulu, five raids each in Kuching and Miri, two raids in Kota Samarahan and a raid each in Sibu, Bau, Serian, Mukah, Marudi, Betong and Meradong.
Dev said raids were constantly conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to online gamblers.
Twenty-one raids were conducted in seven districts (Kuching, Kota Samarahan, Bintulu, Sarikei, Betong, Lubok Antu and Meradong) that resulted in the arrest of 24 service providers and seizure of 27 mobile phones and cash amounting to RM11,719.
Twenty-six raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in 11 districts. The most number of raids were conducted in Kuching (6), Miri (5), Sarikei (4) and Lubok Antu (4). The raids resulted in the arrest of 30 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM11,266. Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationery were also seized.
On 28 February several police teams from CID HQs led by ASP Rudy Garit conducted 10 simultaneous raids at four illegal 4D counters and six gambling reload counters in Sarikei. Seven individuals were arrested and cash amounting to RM8,528 was seized.
On 4 March several teams from CID HQs led by Inspector Rustam bin Morat conducted seven simultaneous raids at four illegal 4D counters and three cyber gambling reload counters in Lubok Antu.
Eight individuals were arrested and cash amounting to RM7,923 was seized.
Of the 54 arrestees, 33 were males while the rest were females. They were aged between 19 and 64 years. Five foreigners were among those arrested.
All the arrestees are being investigated for offences committed under the Common Gaming House Act, 1953.
