Police have dismantled two suspected football betting syndicates operating during the 2026 FIFA World Cup after raiding condominium units in Gelugor and Butterworth, leading to the arrest of nine individuals.
Penang Police Chief Datuk Dennis Lim Kwang Keng said the raids were carried out under Ops Soga XI, a statewide operation running from June 11 to July 19 to crack down on illegal football gambling activities throughout the tournament.
The first raid took place on June 26 at a condominium unit in Gelugor, where officers arrested four suspects comprising one local woman and three foreign men aged between 29 and 44.
Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had converted the apartment into an operations centre to manage customer accounts, oversee financial transactions and promote online football betting through the website 137.com.
Police also seized several computers, mobile phones and other electronic devices believed to have been used to facilitate the illegal betting operation.
A second raid was conducted the following day at another condominium unit in Butterworth, resulting in the arrest of five local men aged between 27 and 41.
According to Dennis, the group is suspected of operating World Cup football betting through the Nova88 website, using the residential unit as a calling centre to manage customer accounts, receive and supervise online wagers, and provide customer support using computers and mobile phones linked to the gambling platform.
During the operation, officers confiscated six computers, mobile phones of various brands, internet modems and other computer equipment believed to have been used in the betting activities.
All nine suspects have been remanded until July 1 to assist investigations under Section 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 1953 and Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.
Dennis said that since the launch of Ops Soga XI, Penang police have conducted 21 raids, arrested 28 individuals and seized RM8,935 in cash along with numerous electronic devices believed to have been used in online gambling operations.
He added that police will continue intensifying Ops Soga XI throughout the remainder of the FIFA World Cup, focusing on identifying and dismantling betting syndicates, calling centres, bookmakers and individuals involved in illegal gambling activities, whether conducted physically or online.
