Malaysians smash illegal betting ring

Malaysian police have smashed a World Cup soccer related illegal betting operation.

The outfit was based in a northern Malaysian town but believed to have links in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei and Thailand.

The country's Star newspaper says the betting ring collected up to the equivalent of €1.35m for a single match.

Although several bookmaking operations around the country have been busted, the ring based in Jitra is the biggest so far.

The newspaper says police detained the syndicate leader and members, seized mobile phones and 27 computers used to conduct "electronic betting."

Authorities say they will confiscate the illegal gains from bets under a new anti-money laundering law.

It is not known how many people were arrested.

Federal Criminal Investigations Department Director Salleh Mat Som says Malaysian police worked closely with Interpol in their investigation.

Betting on soccer is outlawed in Malaysia, as in some other Asian countries. But illegal betting on local soccer matches and the English Premier League have flourished over the years.

Malaysian authorities have set up special teams to track illegal betting syndicates trying to cash in on the World Cup