FORTY people were arrested for suspected involvement with online gambling syndicates and illegal cryptocurrency activities in a series of raids in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on Friday.

Police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said the suspects comprised 17 local men and one local woman, 15 Chinese men and six Chinese women, and one Singaporean, all aged between 20 and 58.

“Items seized during the raids include mobile phones, US currency, golden coloured bars, cars, watches, handbags, jewellery and computers,” she said in a statement tonight.

The online gambling syndicate was said to be targeting Taiwanese nationals, and those interested to bet on the platform were asked to make money transfers to mule accounts in China.

“The syndicate was also conducting unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange activities, changing money received from China into cryptocurrency that was then sent back to the country,” she said.

The suspects will be remanded until Thursday, and they are being investigated under section 420 of the penal code and section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001. – Bernama, May 22, 2023.