SINGAPORE : Police arrested nine people in a raid to break up an illegal 4-D betting syndicate on Saturday.

Six men and three women were nabbed in the nine-hour operation conducted by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Intelligence Department (PID). The suspects are between the ages of 31 and 59 years.

Nearly S$12,000 in cash was recovered in the operation which targeted six locations, mainly HDB flats in western Singapore. Five computers, 13 handphones, six fax machines, thumb drives and bank books were also seized.

According to the police, illegal bets were collected from punters by syndicate members, who would then consolidate betting records and fax them to a collection centre.

The estimated amount of money that had been placed as bets at the time of the raid was about S$72,000.

Seven of the nine suspects will be charged in court on Tuesday for helping to run a public lottery. If convicted, they could be fined up to S$200,000 each and jailed for up to five years.

Meanwhile, two suspects are still being investigated.

In a statement, the police warned that while punters may have the advantage of betting on credit with illegal bookies, there is always a risk that such bookies may not honour bets if punters win.

The police added that most illegal gambling operators arrested have admitted that they may abscond with punters' winnings to settle their own financial problems. - CNA/ms