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THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has frozen over 150 bank accounts linked to mule account holders suspected of facilitating online gambling syndicates in Penang, involving funds exceeding RM32 million.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow revealed the figures during a Penang State Legislative Assembly session on Thursday, noting that the enforcement action stemmed from continuous police operations, including Ops Dadu, which targets online gambling and scam-related syndicates.
“According to police records, in 2023 alone, a total of 2,337 complaints related to online gambling and its promotion were received, resulting in 2,681 arrests and 1,390 charges filed in court,” Chow (DAP–Padang Kota) said in response to a question from Joseph Ng Soon Siang (DAP–Air Itam).
He further noted that in 2024, police had already recorded 1,510 cases, leading to 1,810 arrests and 1,084 prosecutions.
“For the period up to March this year alone, there were 485 reported cases involving online gambling and its promotion, with 542 individuals arrested and 255 charges filed,” he added.
Chow stressed that the state government fully supports ongoing efforts by PDRM to combat the scourge of cybercrime and maintain public trust in law enforcement amid rising concerns about illegal gambling and online fraud.
Ops Dadu remains a key initiative by PDRM in tackling such offences, with authorities increasingly focusing on disrupting financial networks used by syndicates through the identification and freezing of mule accounts. - May 22, 2025