Interpol Seized Millions From Illegal Gambling During World Cup

France-based int'l police agency Interpol "cracked down" on organized crime networks engaged in illegal gambling across Asia during the World Cup in Russia, according to Niji Ng of XINHUA. Interpol seized more than $1.7M and "arrested hundreds of suspects." The agency "conducted more than 14,900 raids at illegal gambling dens across China," including Hong Kong and Macao, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, where an estimated $1.6B worth of bets "were handled." From June 22-July 16, more than $1.7M in cash was seized, in addition to 1,000 computers and mobile phones which are being analyzed in the "ongoing investigation." So far, Interpol’s football gambling operations have "led to the arrest of 30,000 suspects and the seizure" of about $57M in cash, in "addition to the closure" of more than 3,700 illegal gambling dens which handled almost $8B worth of bets (XINHUA, 8/20).