Malaysian police arrest 32 Chinese nationals in KL raid on alleged World Cup betting syndicate
Malaysian police have arrested 32 Chinese nationals after dismantling an alleged online World Cup football betting syndicate operating from an office in Kuala Lumpur.
- Police arrested 32 Chinese nationals in a raid on an alleged online World Cup betting operation in Kuala Lumpur.
- Officers seized computers, phones and internet equipment believed to have supported the gambling activities.
- Twelve local men were also detained over a shopping mall car park fight in Cheras.
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Kuala Lumpur police have dismantled an alleged online football betting syndicate following the arrest of 32 Chinese nationals during an early morning raid on an office unit in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Fadil Marsus said officers from the Cheras District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division carried out the operation at about 2.40 am on 1 July.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 29 men and three women, aged between 20 and 40.
Police also seized 28 computers, mobile phones of various brands, internet modems and other equipment believed to have been used in the gambling operation.
Alleged World Cup betting operation
Fadil said investigations found the syndicate had been operating World Cup football betting through the website 6288.com.
"The syndicate was found to be operating World Cup football betting via the website 6288.com, using the office unit as an operations centre which had been running for three weeks," he said in a statement on 2 July.
The case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, Section 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 1953 and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
"All suspects have been remanded for four days until 4 July to assist in the investigation," Fadil said.
He added that Kuala Lumpur police would continue to intensify Op Soga XI throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, focusing on betting agents, organisers and individuals involved in gambling activities, whether conducted physically or online.
Twelve detained over Cheras mall brawl
In a separate development, police detained 12 local men to assist investigations into a fight at a shopping mall car park in Cheras on 29 June.
Fadil said the suspects were arrested in three separate raids around the federal capital after one of those involved lodged a police report.
Investigations found the incident began after a shopping mall employee reprimanded a group of individuals for obstructing the road.
"The reprimand then led to a verbal altercation before turning into a fight," Fadil said.
The complainant suffered minor injuries to several parts of his body.
All 12 suspects have been remanded until Tuesday while police investigate the case under Section 148 of the Penal Code.
Authorities remain alert to organised crime
The latest enforcement action comes as Malaysian authorities have warned that organised crime syndicates are adapting to intensified law enforcement operations across Southeast Asia by relocating their activities.
Earlier this month, a Malaysian anti-trafficking non-governmental organisation alleged that international scam syndicates displaced from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar could be moving their operations to Malaysia.
The allegation prompted police to call for intelligence and evidence to substantiate the claims while increasing attention on the possibility of such cross-border movements.
