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Police in Taiwan seized more than $313 million in World Cup wagers after busting an illegal online gambling ring, authorities announced on Thursday.
Officers raided a five-storey house in the southern city of Tainan on Wednesday, arresting eight people and confiscating computers, mobile phones, ledgers, and cash.
The Tainan City Police Department’s Fourth Precinct confirmed that the syndicate had rented the property specifically for the duration of the tournament to exploit local football fans.
The illegal operation drew international participation to the sporting-mad island despite the fact that Taiwan did not qualify for the tournament.
Investigators revealed that five of the eight arrested individuals had travelled from Hong Kong and Macao on tourist visas specifically to run the betting ring.
The outfit managed to accumulate nearly NT$10 billion ($313 million) in total wagers before law enforcement successfully shut down the operation.
