Malaysia: Police arrest 28 suspects in Kuching online gambling call centre raids

Malaysian police have dismantled an alleged online gambling call centre operation in Kuching, arresting 28 people – including 25 foreign nationals – during coordinated raids on two apartment units on Jalan Song.

Police in Kuching, Sarawak have arrested 28 individuals suspected of working for an illegal online gambling call centre syndicate. The suspects were detained during a targeted operation at two apartment units along Jalan Song, where officers found what they believe to be a fully fledged hub for managing and promoting offshore betting sites.

According to local media, the group consisted of three Malaysian men and 25 foreign nationals – 24 men and one woman – aged between 19 and 40. Investigators say the apartments were being used as a base to handle customer communications, manage player accounts and provide technical support for illegal gambling platforms serving clients outside Malaysia. Police seized computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment thought to have been used in the operation.

The case forms part of wider national efforts under “Ops Dadu Mega”, an ongoing nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling that has already led to hundreds of arrests this year. The latest Kuching raids are being investigated under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which covers the promotion of gambling, alongside potential immigration offences for suspects found without valid documentation.

Police have urged the public to report suspicious call centre operations or online gambling activities, warning that syndicates increasingly use residential units and temporary staff – including foreign workers – to try to evade detection as enforcement pressure rises.