Malaysia raids identify underage online gambling operator trend

Malaysian authorities have said it has emerged that syndicates are hiring teenagers to operate online gambling dens following a series of raids across the region this past week.

Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Dev Kumar said syndicates are using teens, and others, as agents to avert detection. Kumar detailed the arrest of a 16-year-old school drop out who was found operating an online gambling den at one of the houses raided over the weekend.

“Investigations showed that they were all agents employed by a syndicate to carry out end-to-end online gambling activities,” Kumar said at a press briefing.

This past week resulted in 55 arrests from twelve districts, the seizure of RM11,000 in cash and the confiscation of numerous items of equipment.