Royal Malaysia Police arrested 331 people in 293 raids nationwide under Ops Soga XI, an operation against unlicensed sports betting and online gambling run around the FIFA World Cup 20261. The Criminal Investigation Department director, CP Datuk M. Kumar S. Muthuvelu, announced the figures in a statement reported on 29 June 20262.
The operation ran from 11 June to 19 July and was carried out with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)1. Of those arrested, 312 were men and 19 were women, comprising 234 Malaysian nationals and 97 foreign nationals1. Police seized RM145,005.09 in cash1. The two sources give the detected betting value differently: the police statement reported by Bernama put it at RM2,625,529.462, while the police's own published article gave RM2.63 million1.
Police detected 185 sites, covering websites, platforms, applications and social media, used for football betting and for promoting gambling activity2. Kumar said blocking and content takedown would be carried out with MCMC's help2.
"Polis Diraja Malaysia menahan seramai 331 individu menerusi 293 serbuan yang dilaksanakan di seluruh negara dalam Ops Soga XI."
Suspects were taken to the relevant district police headquarters for documentation and further investigation under Sections 6(1), 6(3), 4(1)(c) and 4(1)(e) of the Betting Act 19532. Foreign suspects found in the country without valid documents are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and investigations are also being carried out under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 20012.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| People arrested | 331 |
| Raids | 293 |
| Men / women arrested | 312 / 19 |
| Malaysian / foreign nationals | 234 / 97 |
| Cash seized | RM145,005.09 |
| Detected betting value | RM2,625,529.462 / RM2.63 million1 |
| Sites detected | 185 |
What it means for players
The arrests cover people suspected of involvement in unlicensed sports betting and online gambling, not only operators1. Both Malaysian nationals and foreign nationals were among those held, and foreign suspects without valid documents face a separate immigration investigation2. The laws cited in the operation, the Betting Act 1953 and the anti-money laundering act, are the framework that applies to betting activity in the country; the Malaysia guide and the page on what happens if you are caught gambling in Malaysia set out how that framework works. For anyone betting on football during the tournament, the sports betting in Malaysia page covers what is licensed and what is not, and sports betting in Asia covers how the rules differ across the region. The 185 sites detected include social media and apps as well as websites2, and blocking action is planned with MCMC2, so access to some platforms may change during the operation. The online gambling enforcement page tracks arrest cases by jurisdiction, and online gambling in Asia sets out the legal position for players in each market.
What happens next
The operation is scheduled to run until 19 July1. Police said blocking of websites and takedown of content would be carried out with MCMC's assistance2. Investigations continue under the Betting Act 1953, the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 20012. No further figures beyond those announced have been reported.
