South Korea takes down illegal gambling syndicate worth $17.3bn

• Law enforcement in South Korea dismantled the largest-ever illegal gambling syndicate
• The criminal organization operated across Southeast Asia and allegedly handled $17.3bn
• Suspected members of the illegal gambling ring were detained, including its alleged mastermind

A large-scale Southeast Asia-based criminal enterprise, believed to be behind the largest illegal online gambling operation in South Korea, was taken down.

Suspects earned more than $100m from illegal gambling, while the network itself was valued at more than $17bn.

The illegal gambling syndicate processed $17bn+ transactions

As announced by the local media outlet, Korea JoongAng Daily, a total of 77 suspects were detained by the Chungnam Provincial Police Agency in a massive illegal gambling operation.

The investigation against the largest illegal gambling syndicate in the country started late last year after law enforcement hit a low-level illegal gambling operation and uncovered evidence about a larger criminal enterprise.

The investigation helped identify suspected leaders, while analysis of nearly 800 bank accounts tracked funds transferred by the illegal gambling ring.

What’s known so far is that the criminal group was involved in developing, operating and selling illegal gambling platforms.

The suspects concealed their actions by using Telegram to communicate, leveraged third-party bank accounts, and converted funds into crypto.

Police suspect the criminal syndicate created and sold 188 gambling websites that processed a mind-blowing 23 trillion won, or $17.3 billion in wagers.

According to law enforcement, the cross-border criminal syndicate operated from Vietnam and Cambodia and was active between March 2023 and July 2026.

Police allege the illegal gambling network earned a whopping 150 billion won, or $113 million.

The suspected ringleader and other members of the syndicate were detained

A total of 77 suspects were detained and charged with organized crime and operating illegal gambling platforms.

Some 21 suspects remain in custody, while the other 56 were charged and released.

A dozen suspects are still overseas and South Korea is seeking their arrest via Red Notices from Interpol.

The suspected ringleader, a person in his 50s, was also arrested.

After the illegal gambling crackdown, police shut down 118 gambling websites, while access to more than 400 illegal gambling websites for users in South Korea was blocked.

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