In the early hours of Sunday at 3:30am, Malaysian police raided an establishment in Batu Hua You Garden, Kuala Lumpur, which was being used as an illegal betting call center and unlicensed entertainment venue for the World Cup football tournament, arresting 34 individuals including 33 foreign nationals.
Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Datuk Fadil stated that the operation was carried out by the Sentul District Police Criminal Investigation Department's Anti-Vice, Gangsterism, and Gambling Division based on intelligence and surveillance.
In a statement, he said that those arrested included 28 Chinese men, 3 Myanmar men, 1 Korean man, 1 Thai woman, and 1 local woman, all aged between 20 and 40 years old.
"Preliminary investigations revealed the venue was being used to operate, organize, and promote online gambling activities for the 2026 World Cup football tournament, while also serving as an unlicensed entertainment center."
"It is believed that the establishment began operations in mid-June this year, with business hours from 5:00pm to 3:00am."
Fadil added that, during the operation, police also seized 15 mobile phones of various brands, 2 laptops, RM60 in cash, and various musical equipment believed to be used for the entertainment venue.
The case will be investigated under Section 4(1)(c) and Section 6(3) of the Betting Act 1953, Section 4(1) of the Entertainment Act 1992 (Federal Territories), and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.