An extensive operation coordinated by Interpol aimed at illegal soccer betting during Euro 2024 confiscated over US$59 million in illicit profits, leading to 5,100 arrests globally, reported the international police organization. 

The mission, dubbed "SOGA X," required the collaboration of 28 countries and regions. It resulted in the liberation of numerous trafficked individuals in the Philippines and in the interruption of global money laundering operations. According to Interpol, thousands of illicit gambling websites were closed. 

The unregulated gambling market is thought to surpass the size of the regulated markets, particularly in Asia. According to the Asian Racing Federation, it is valued at approximately US$1.7 trillion worldwide, with soccer being the most popular sport for betting. 

Significant soccer competitions such as Euro 2024, held from June 21 to July 21, create a substantial increase in betting activity. 

Human Trafficking, Financial Fraud 

Stephen Kavanagh, the executive director of Police Services at Interpol, states that illegal gambling is often connected to broader organized crime activities.

"Organized crime networks reap huge profits from illegal gambling, which is often intertwined with corruption, human trafficking, and money laundering,” Kavanagh said in a statement. “The successes of Operation SOGA X would not have been achieved without global information sharing and significant efforts by law enforcement authorities on the ground.”

In a particular case, law enforcement in the Philippines, aided by Interpol, conducted a raid on a scam operation that was functioning next to a licensed gambling establishment (POGO). The operation revealed more than 650 victims of human trafficking who were enticed to the site with guarantees of jobs. Rather, they were compelled to toil for free via intimidation, threats, and the confiscation of their passports. 

In Vietnam, authorities dismantled an elaborate gambling operation that was producing US$800K in daily revenue. The organization utilized servers in various nations and implemented an advanced system of bank accounts to cleanse and obscure funds. 

Mule Accounts 

According to Interpol, authorities in Thailand confiscated assets valued at US$9 million from a money laundering and illegal gambling operation. In Greece, a comparable network managed 3,000 counterfeit and "mule" user profiles on legitimate gambling sites across Greece, Cyprus, and Spain. 

The accounts were established using stolen identification cards and counterfeit documents, and were utilized to launder the profits from illegal gambling through legitimate websites. 

Interpol also pointed out that illegal gambling can be linked to match-fixing.

"When illegal gambling is rampant, it becomes easier for corrupt individuals to influence games, so the SOGA X operation also aimed to intercept and interrupt any signal of manipulation,” the agency said.

The agency reported that those investigations are still in progress.