Eighteen people were arrested in raids on a pair of Internet cafes in Siem Reap City on Wednesday for suspicion of illegal gambling on the World Cup, according to the Siem Reap provincial police chief.
The raids, both of which took place at 3:30 a.m., were the latest police operations across the country against illegal gambling on the World Cup, which ends in Brazil on Sunday.
“Police never turn a blind eye. Whenever there is illegal activities, we will crack down,” provincial police chief Sort Nady said Thursday.
Police seized 22 computers and arrested 13 people at one of the establishments and seized 15 computers and arrested five people at the other.
Three women who were among the arrested were accused of running the operations.
The raids, the first to take place in Siem Reap since the World Cup kicked off, followed a vow from authorities prior to the tournament to crack down on illegal betting rings.
Provincial minor crimes bureau chief Thun Channareth said the suspects were all sent to the provincial court Wednesday afternoon.
