Law enforcement agencies have revealed a massive crackdown on illegal football gambling, resulting in over 5,100 arrests and the recovery of more than USD 59 million in illicit proceeds.
This operation, known as SOGA X, was executed from June to July 2024 and involved a collaborative effort from INTERPOL alongside 28 countries and territories. The timing of the operation was strategic, coinciding with the UEFA 2024 European Football Championship, a period expected to see an increase in betting activities, particularly from organized crime groups profiting from illegal football gambling.
The Scale of Illegal Football Gambling
The global illegal gambling market is estimated to be worth a staggering USD 1.7 trillion, according to research from the Asian Racing Federation. This shadowy sector is often intertwined with various forms of criminal activity, including human trafficking, money laundering, and fraud. The SOGA X operation not only targeted illegal online football gambling but also aimed to dismantle the networks supporting these criminal enterprises, highlighting the extensive connections between sports betting and broader criminal activities.
During this operation, authorities successfully shut down thousands of illegal gambling websites and initiated investigations that led to the rescue of trafficked individuals and the exposure of sophisticated money laundering schemes. For instance, a notable case in the Philippines saw local authorities, with INTERPOL’s assistance, dismantle a scam center linked to a licensed gambling operation.
Human Trafficking Victims Rescued
In the Philippines, the SOGA X operation resulted in the rescue of over 650 human trafficking victims, comprising nearly 400 Filipinos and more than 250 foreign nationals from six different countries. Many of these individuals were misled into believing they had secured legitimate employment, only to find themselves trapped through threats and intimidation. They were forced to work for the legal gambling site while simultaneously managing illegal cyber scams, such as romance fraud and cryptocurrency-related schemes.
An INTERPOL Operational Support Team played a crucial role in this operation, providing expertise in extracting and analyzing forensic evidence from seized devices. Their efforts were instrumental in tracing illicit financial flows and identifying victims and suspects across different jurisdictions.
Significant Arrests Across Asia
The reach of SOGA X extended beyond the Philippines. In Vietnam, where online gambling is illegal for citizens, authorities dismantled a complex gambling ring that processed an astonishing USD 800,000 in daily transactions. This syndicate utilized servers located in various countries, employing an intricate network of bank accounts and e-wallets to facilitate illegal betting and payouts.
In Thailand, police conducted raids on two major illegal betting sites, leading to the arrest of key ringleaders. They also seized assets valued at over USD 9 million. Similarly, in Greece, law enforcement agencies took down an organized crime group that manipulated the betting landscape using fake accounts. This group managed a staggering 3,000 fake and “mule” accounts on legal gambling platforms across Greece, Cyprus, and Spain, employing stolen identity documents and sophisticated techniques to disguise their operations.
Interconnected Criminal Activities
SOGA X was a coordinated effort with INTERPOL, with vital support from various international organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Expert Group on Organized Crime (APEG) and the INTERPOL Match Fixing Task Force (IMFTF). Stephen Kavanagh, INTERPOL’s Executive Director of Police Services, emphasized the importance of global information sharing in combating the intricate networks of organized crime.
Organized crime networks reap huge profits from illegal gambling, which is often intertwined with corruption, human trafficking, and money laundering,” he stated. The implications of illegal football gambling extend beyond mere financial loss; they are also closely linked to match-fixing, where criminals manipulate sports outcomes to secure guaranteed profits. The ongoing investigations from SOGA X aim to disrupt these manipulative practices and uphold the integrity of sports.
Conclusion
Operation SOGA X saw participation from a diverse array of countries, including Australia, Belgium, Greece, Vietnam, and more. Each jurisdiction contributed to a collective effort to combat the rising tide of illegal gambling activities that threaten to undermine the integrity of sports and public safety.
As investigations continue, the ramifications of this operation are likely to resonate throughout the global landscape of online gambling. Law enforcement agencies are not only focusing on immediate arrests but also on dismantling the underlying infrastructure that supports illegal football gambling.