Penang police have busted two call centres running football betting operations during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arresting nine people in separate raids in Gelugor and Butterworth.
Penang police chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng said the raids were part of Op Soga XI, a state-wide crackdown running from 11 June to 19 July.
In the first raid on 26 June, police moved on a condominium unit at The Light Collection 1 in Gelugor and arrested four individuals, comprising a local woman and three foreign men aged between 29 and 44.
Investigations found the syndicate had used the premises as a call centre to manage customer accounts, oversee transactions and promote online football betting through the website 137.com.
Police seized several computers, mobile phones and various electronic devices used in the illegal operation.
The second raid, conducted yesterday at a condominium unit in Marminton Homes in Butterworth, led to the arrest of five local men aged between 27 and 41.
This syndicate had operated World Cup football betting through the Nova88 website, using the residence as its call centre.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to use residential premises as a call centre to manage customer accounts, receive and monitor online football bets, and provide customer support using computers and telephones connected to the gambling platform,” Lim said.
During the Butterworth raid, police seized six computers, mobile phones of various brands, internet modems and various computer equipment used in the betting activities.
All suspects have been remanded until 1 July to assist investigations. The case is being probed under Section 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 1953 and Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Under Op Soga XI, Penang police have so far conducted 21 raids, arrested 28 individuals and seized RM8,935 in cash along with various equipment used in online gambling.
“Penang police will continue intensifying Op Soga XI throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, focusing on detecting call centres, betting agents, organisers and individuals involved in gambling activities, whether physically or online,” Lim said.
Source: Bernama
