Over 5,000 arrested as INTERPOL launched a global sting against illegal football bets, targeting regions including Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
More than 5,000 were arrested as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) conducted a major international sting operation worldwide targeting illegal football gambling. This included some countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
In a statement published on their website October 17, 2024, Interpol said the operation (code-named SOGA X) recovered more than $59 million “in illicit proceeds” in operations across Asia-Pacific and in Europe.
Interpol dismantled a scam centre operating alongside a licensed gambling site in the Philippines, rescuing more than 650 human trafficking victims of which includes 400 Filipinos and 250 foreign nationals “from six different countries.”
“Many of the victims had been lured to the location with false promises of employment and were kept there through threats, intimidation, and even passport confiscation. They were then forced into working for the legal gambling site, while also running illegal cyber scams, including romance scams and cryptocurrency-related fraud,” Interpol said in a statement.
Philippine authorities aided in the INTERPOL operation.
Meanwhile, in Vietnam, authorities dismantled a “sophisticated gambling ring” which generated $800,000. Vietnam prohibits online gambling for citizens.
“The syndicate, powered by servers located in multiple countries, used an elaborate network of bank accounts and e-wallets to receive illegal gambling bets and distribute payouts,” Interpol said.
Authorities also raided 2 areas hosting major illegal betting websites in Thailand.
The operation also went through in Greece, Cyprus, and Spain, where it was found that they were operating some 3,000 fake and “mule” user accounts on legal gambling websites, adding that they used stolen cards, forged documents and e-wallets to conduct activities.
“The goal of this type of scheme is to break down large sums of money into smaller, less detectable amounts. By dispersing their profits across multiple accounts, criminals aim to avoid detection by law enforcement, financial institutions and legitimate gambling sites. It’s a method also used to facilitate money laundering,” Interpol said.
For Interpol, illegal gambling is often linked to match-fixing, as criminals seek to manipulate the outcomes of sports events to secure profits.
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