Underground sports gambling ring busted; five charged

The FIOD has arrested a total of five suspects in an international investigation into illegal gambling on football matches, the Public Prosecutor announced. The tree main suspects are a 34 year old man from Rijswijk, a 40 year old man from Hilversum and a 40 year old Dutchman who lives in Cyprus. These three are suspected of taking part in a criminal organization which allowed people to place bets on football matches on a large scale. The other two suspects that were arrested are a 49 year old man from Zevenhuizen on suspicion of forgery and a 58 year old man from the Hague on suspicion of offering illegal lotto. All these suspects are also suspected of laundering the money made in their criminal activities. The investigation was launched partly in response to information from Germany that the 40 year old man from Cyprus is suspected of possible involvement in match fixing, including matches in the Netherlands, in 2008 and 2009. The Public Prosecutor in the Netherlands investigated if the man has since then still been involved in match fixing, but has found no evidence so far. The FIOD raided four houses in Rijswijk, The Hague and Hilversum as well as an office in The Hague as part of this investigation. The authorities in Cyprus also searched a house there at the request of the Netherlands. Searches were also done in Curacao, Germany, Austria and England. Administration, about 100 thousand euros in cash, cars and luxury goods, including Rolex watches, were confiscated. Several buildings were also seized.