Paris - More than 400 suspects have been arrested in a major police operation against illegal football gambling in Asia, the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, announced on Friday. Interpol said in a statement that law enforcement authorities from China (including Hong Kong and Macao), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were involved in the operation codenamed SOGA (soccer gambling) since June.
"Illegal soccer gambling is not only a crime in itself, but is often linked with other serious offences such as corruption, money laundering and prostitution, whichgenerate massive profits, all too often at the cost of public services and the safety of hardworking people," said Interpol executive director Jean-Michel Louboutin.
"This operation has not only seriously affected the activities of organized crime gangs throughout Asia, but also served as an excellent test of national, regional and international police co- operation ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games."
Interpol said that 423 arrests were carried out, 262 gambling dens were shut and 680,000 dollars (458,000 euros) in cash seized along with computers, bank cards, mobile phones and cars, in the first major operation it has carried out against football gambling.
Interpol said that the 262 dens alone "were estimated to have handled more than 680 million dollars worth of illegal bets worldwide."
