JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested 35 individuals for gambling and confiscated cash worth more than RM30,000 during separate raids in the city centre here and in Muar.

Johor police chief Comm M. Kumar said the raids were conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from Johor Baru South district police headquarters and Muar district police headquarters.

“The raids took place from 11.45pm on June 6 until 12.05am on June 7 at two separate premises within the Johor Baru South and Muar police districts.

“The operation resulted in the arrest of 35 locals, comprising 32 men and three women, all aged between 20 and 68 years old,” he said in a statement here on Saturday (June 8).

Comm Kumar said that during the raids, the police also successfully confiscated various gambling equipment, including “See Kee Pee” machines and playing cards, along with a total of RM32,687 in cash.

“The arrested individuals and the seized items have been taken to the Johor Baru South and Muar police district headquarters for further investigation,” he added.

The case is being investigated under Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 for gambling, which carries a penalty of a fine not exceeding RM5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, or both upon conviction.

Comm Kumar also said that the police will remain firm in its stance against any gambling syndicates and are committed to ensuring that no such activities take root in the state.

“As part of this effort, total enforcement actions against unlicensed gambling activities will continue to be intensified, including cutting off electricity supply under the provision of Section 21A of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953,” he said.

Those with information on unlicensed gambling activities or other criminal activities can report to the Johor police hotline at 019-279 2095 or the Operations Room at 07-221 2999.