{
  "id": 19607481,
  "title": "7 online scam syndicates busted, 42 held by Sarawak police",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/7-online-scam-syndicates-busted-42-held-by-sarawak-police",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T05:41:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/12/7-online-scam-syndicates-busted-42-held-by-sarawak-police"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Sarawak police have dismantled seven online fraud syndicates, arresting 42 individuals in the recent Operation Magpie. The suspects, aged between 19 and 61, included 36 men and six women, with 14 locals and 28 foreign nationals. The raids took place in Bintulu, Kuching, Padawan, Miri, and Sibu, targeting various properties used as call centers for the syndicates' fraudulent activities. These operations targeted investment scams, cryptocurrency fraud, online gambling, and handling of illicit funds, with victims from Japan, China, Indonesia, and Austria. Police seized equipment worth around RM230,000, including laptops, desktop computers, mobile phones, and a vehicle. The cases are being investigated under Penal Code Sections 420 and 120B. Additionally, Sarawak police recorded their largest seizure of the year, seizing untaxed cigarettes and alcoholic beverages worth RM9.7 million during a raid at a private jetty in Sibu.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}