HK police seize HK$360 million in betting records in largest haul of Euro 2016

Fifteen people were arrested and more than HK$360 million in illegal betting records seized in a police crackdown on bookmaking rackets across the city on Wednesday, hours before the Euro 2016 semi-finals between Wales and Portugal.

In the single largest seizure of betting records since the tournament began last month, officers from the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau stopped a suspect off Kam Shek House in Ping Shek Estate in Ngau Chi Wan on Wednesday night and found about HK$250 million in soccer betting records in a flat there.

At about the same time, officers from the same squad raided an apartment on Yuen Long New Street in Yuen Long, confiscating about HK$100 million of betting records for soccer games and horse races, along with HK$410,000 in cash.

Eleven people, including a suspected ringleader were arrested in the flat, from which five computers and 15 mobile phones were also seized.

Police believed the suspected betting centre had been operated by triad members from the district for about six months.

Earlier on Wednesday, officers from other units raided sites at Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin, The Belcher’s in Pok Fu Lam and Ma Hang Estate in Stanley, seizing HK$12 million, HK$1.2 million and HK$4.5 million in soccer betting records respectively. Two men and a woman were arrested.

Under the Gambling Ordinance, anyone convicted of bookmaking faces a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and a HK$5 million fine. The penalty for placing bets is a nine-month prison term and a fine of HK$30,000.

(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)