By Poyi (Natalie) Leung
An illegal soccer and horse gambling syndicate involving more than HK$20 million in bets was smashed by the Judiciary Police (PJ) on Monday following a two-year collaboration with INTERPOL.
Local police received intelligence from INTERPOL in 2006 that an underground syndicate was operating in
Macau to receive bets on soccer games and horse races from the mainland, Hong Kong and Macau, police spokesman Chan Kin Hong said.
The Judiciary Police conducted raids on Monday night in several locations including Luis de Camoes, Estrada do Repouso, Fai Chi Kei and Calcada do Tronco Velho where seven Macau residents aged between 26 and 62 were arrested including the 42-year-old mastermind surnamed Vong.
The suspects admitted to police the alleged crime and said they received about HK$17 million and HK$4 million bets respectively from football games and horse races over the past five months.
Police also seized HK$700,000 of cash and computer facilities from the various locations, Mr Chan said.
He also said the syndicate attracted customers by giving higher rates to winners.
The four men and three women suspects will be sent to the Public Prosecutions Office and charged with organised crime and illegal gambling.
