Interpol seizes US$2.2b worth of bets as illegal gambling on World Cup soars
HK, mainland police net HK$750m as gambling on tournament soars in Asia, with 1,400 arrests
Illegal bets seized across Asia during the soccer World Cup totalled 14 times the amount confiscated during the last tournament four years ago, as punters splurged unprecedented amounts on the contest.
This year's haul included almost US$12 million seized during a six-week operation by enforcers from Hong Kong, Macau, the mainland, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam.
During the Interpol-coordinated operation from June 1 to July 13, more than 1,400 people were arrested in 1,000 raids on illegal gambling dens, many controlled by organised crime gangs which took bets mainly through the internet.
Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director of police services, said a coordinated response was needed to combat international syndicates which used the gambling profits for other crimes.
"Illegal gambling generates massive profits for organised crime networks which are often linked to corruption, human trafficking and money laundering," he said.
Hong Kong and mainland police alone seized HK$750 million in illegal soccer bets - more than double the amount taken in 2010.
