Penang Police raided two illegal World Cup football betting call centers in Gelugor and Butterworth, arresting nine suspects and seizing the equipment.
george town: Penang police have busted two call centers involved in football betting activities during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and arrested nine people, following raids in Gelugor and Butterworth.
Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng (Picture) said the raid was part of Operation Soga XI from June 11 to July 19 to curb such activities across the state.
read more: Police launch Operation Soga XI to crackdown on World Cup gambling
“In the first raid on June 26 at a condominium unit in The Light Collection 1, Gelugor, police arrested four persons, including a local woman and three foreign men aged 29 to 44.
“The investigation revealed that the syndicate used the premises as a call center to manage customer accounts, monitor transactions and promote online football betting through the website 137.com,” he said in a statement tonight.
He said the police also seized several computers, mobile phones and various electronic devices used in illegal operations during the raid.
Lim said in a second raid yesterday at a condominium unit in Marminton Homes, Butterworth, police arrested five local men aged 27 to 41.
He said the syndicate had conducted World Cup football betting through the Nova88 website, using the residence as its call centre.
“The modus operandi of the syndicate was to use the residential premises as a call center to manage customer accounts, receive and monitor online football bets and provide customer support using computers and telephones linked to the gambling platform.
“During the raid, we seized six computers, mobile phones of different brands, internet modems and various computer equipment used in betting activities,” he said.
Lim said all the suspects have been remanded until July 1 to assist in the investigation, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 1953 and Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming House Act 1953.
He said so far, under Operation Soga XI, Penang police have conducted 21 raids, arrested 28 persons and seized RM8,935 in cash along with various devices used in online gambling activities.
“Penang Police will continue to intensify Op Soga XI during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing on detecting call centres, betting agents, organizers and individuals involved in gambling activities, whether physically or online,” he said.
