More than 5,000 people have been arrested across Asia in an Interpol co-ordinated operation targetting illegal World Cup gambling
Nearly 800 illegal gambling dens were raided in China, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand during the month-long operation codenamed Soga III.
The gambling dens, which the international police agency says were linked to organized crime, handled more than 155 million US dollars? worth of bets during the World Cup.
Some $10 million has been seized by police. Assets including cars, bank cards, computers and mobile phones were seized in the month-long operation.
?The results we have seen are impressive, not only in the number of arrests and seizures made across the region in just one month, but in terms of the police co-operation which made this possible,? said Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol?s executive Director of Police Services.
?As well as having clear connections to organized crime gangs, illegal soccer gambling is also linked with corruption, money laundering and prostitution, and Operation Soga III will also have a significant long term impact on these serious offences as well,? added Mr Louboutin.
The operation which ran from June 11th to July 11th was co-ordinated at Interpol headquarters in Lyon and its Liaison Office in Bangkok.
Interpol said today that the information gathered will be reviewed to determine the potential involvement of other individuals or gangs.
?The experience and expertise developed in each of these types of operations provides an even stronger base from which police can work, not only in targeting the organized crime networks behind illegal soccer gambling, but in combating all types of criminal activity which require a regional or international response,? said Mr Louboutin.