KUCHING: Head of CID Sarawak, SAC Dato Dev Kumar said the blitz against illegal gambling in the state moved up a notch last week as the state CID recorded the highest number of raids and arrests so far in a single week.
He said that from Feb 5-11, the CID conducted 97 successful gambling raids that resulted in the arrests of 160 individuals. The types of gambling involved were Illegal 4D (59 raids), cyber gambling (25), gambling in a gaming house (8) and gaming in a public place (5).
The raids were conducted by teams from the CID HQ and district CIDs as follows: CID HQ (32 raids conducted in Miri), Kuching (10), Betong (9), Padawan (7), Sibu (4), Bintulu (4), Miri (3), Bau (3), Saratok (3),
There were two raids in each of the following districts: Kota Samarahan, Serian, Simunjan, Sarikei, Limbang, Kapit, Sri Aman,
Mukah, Matu Daro, Marudi, Meradong, Tatau, Lundu, Kanowit and Lawas had one raid each.
He said the effort to eradicate online gambling continued with raids conducted at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to online gamblers.
A total of 25 raids were conducted in 10 districts that resulted in the arrests of 30 service providers and seizure of 27 mobile phones, tablets and cash amounting to RM6,299.
Meanwhile 59 raids were conducted at counters selling illegal 4D in 15 districts, resulting in the arrests of 74 individuals and seizure of cash amounting to RM20,501.
Mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries were also seized.
Last Saturday, four officers and 12 men from CID HQ led by ASP Rudy Gary conducted multiple illegal 4D raids in several areas in Miri.
They went to 32 illegal counters at Emart Tudan, Morsjaya, Jalan Dato Permaisuri dan Taman Tunku, Miri and arrested 46 individuals. Cash amounting to RM14,439 was seized including mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries.
Raids on ‘Holo’ gaming were also carried in 13 districts with the arrests of 56 individuals. Various gambling paraphernalia and cash totalling RM4,410 were seized.
Of the 160 individuals arrested were 90 males and 70 females aged between 61 and 61 years. Among them were eight foreigners.
All those arrested are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act 1953.
