Alleged Masterminds of 5.3 Trillion Won Illegal Gambling Syndicate Extradited to South Korea

Two alleged masterminds behind an illegal online gambling operation worth 5.3 trillion won (approximately $3.9 billion USD) from overseas have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and extradited to South Korea. The multinational joint task force for combating transnational crime apprehended the two key suspects in cooperation with UAE authorities.

Suspect A allegedly operated gambling sites totaling 4.8 trillion won (approximately $3.6 billion USD) using bases in Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines. He had been on the run overseas for about 12 years since fleeing in 2014. Suspect A is also facing charges including tax evasion amounting to 66 billion won (approximately $50 million USD), drug trafficking and use, and involvement in prostitution. Suspect A is expected to be investigated for his potential involvement in the death of a South Korean national in Malaysia in 2018.

Suspect B, meanwhile, allegedly ran gambling sites worth 500 billion won (approximately $370 million USD) from bases in Indonesia and Dubai since 2018, and is accused of recruiting middle and high school students for his illegal gambling operations.

The government has vowed to relentlessly track down and apprehend overseas fugitive criminal organizations.