Kuala Lumpur  - Malaysian police have detained 12 people, including six Singaporean nationals, believed to be part of an illegal gambling syndicate that raked in
172.8 million ringgit (52.4 million dollars) over the past six months, a news report said Thursday.

The suspects, aged between 18 and 48, were detained during a series of raids recently conducted in the southern state of Johor, the Star daily said.

The raids also resulted in the seizure of fax machines, laptops, betting slips and mobile phones.

The syndicate, which is believed to have been averaging at least 28 million ringgit in bets each month, allegedly accepted bets for the lottery and horse races in Malaysia and Singapore, the report said.

The syndicate moved around regularly to avoid detection but this time around police were able to act following a tip-off.

The suspects have been charged and have all been released on police bail, said state police chief Mohamad Mokhtar Mohamad Shariff.

Last year, state police arrested 702 people in 705 raids on illegal gambling syndicates. (dpa)