Cops bust shoplots-turned-gambling dens, nab 25 ‘pai gow’ players

KUCHING: Two gambling dens were busted in Miri last week as part of an ongoing crackdown by police on illegal gambling activities in the state.

State CID chief Datuk Dev Kumar said the two raids were conducted at shoplots which had been converted into gambling dens in Krokop and Simpang Ngu, Niah.

He said the raid in Krokop took place on Feb 2 where the police team was forced to cut the padlock to gain entry into the premises.

“Thirteen men, aged between 21 and 59, were arrested for playing ‘pai gow’. Cash amounting to RM5,152 along with gambling chips valued at RM5,000 and RM1,000, as well as various other gambling paraphernalia, were seized,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The second raid, meanwhile, was carried out on Feb 4 at a shoplot at Simpang Ngu in Niah during which 12 men, aged between 25 and 53, were also caught for playing ‘pai gow’.

The raid led to the seizure of RM2,455, gambling chips valued from RM50 to RM1,000 and various other gambling paraphernalia.

Dev Kumar revealed that in total, 29 raids were conducted in 15 districts across the state last week that resulted in the arrest of 63 individuals.

“Sixteen raids were conducted against counters selling illegal lottery in nine districts. The raids resulted in 18 arrests and seizure of RM2,392, mobile phones, portable printers, calculators, betting slips and stationeries.”

He said efforts to eradicate online gambling continued with raids at 24-hour convenience stores and coffee shops offering reload services to gamblers.