Interpol conducted Operation SOGA X from June through July 2024 to combat illegal soccer betting, arresting more than 5,100 people in 28 countries, seizing more than $59 million, shutting down tens of thousands of illegal websites, and uncovering links to human trafficking, money laundering, and fraud.
The operation was aimed at combating illegal online gambling, during the 2024 European Football Championship, and it also helped prevent match-fixing and other sports betting-related crimes.
“Organized crime networks reap huge profits from illegal gambling, which is often intertwined with corruption, human trafficking, and money laundering” – Stephen Kavanagh, Executive Director of Interpol Police Services.
In the Philippines, more than 650 victims of human trafficking have been rescued after being tricked into working with promises of legal employment. Victims were held by threats and passport confiscation, forced to work for a legitimate betting site, and participate in fraudulent schemes including “romance” scams and cryptocurrency fraud.
In Thailand, police searched two locations hosting large illegal betting sites and arrested the ringleaders and their network for gambling and money laundering offenses. More than $9 million in assets were seized.
In Vietnam, a sophisticated network that processed about $800,000 worth of bets daily was exposed. Online gambling is illegal for Vietnamese citizens, and the crime syndicate used a sophisticated network of bank accounts and e-wallets to receive bets and pay out winnings. Servers were located in several countries, making tracking difficult.
In Greece, an illegal betting network that operated 3,000 fake and “mule” accounts for betting on sporting events was busted. During the investigation, about 9,000 photos of fake IDs were found on the seized devices. Criminals created fake accounts to break down large amounts of money into smaller ones and hide them from financial institutions, which also facilitated money laundering.
- Application on the Interpol website: https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2024/Web-of-crime-exposed-5-100-arrests-in-illegal-football-gambling-crackdown
