Iran dismantles UK-linked online gambling network

[The Buzz]

Iran's Intelligence Ministry says that is has taken down a U.K.-founded and operated nationwide internet gambling network. The ministry revealed the news on Saturday, crediting 14 months of intricate intelligence gathering and surveillance for the successful operation.

From Tehran Times:

By exploiting up to 35,006 bank accounts, 1,200 payment gateways, and 54 significant gaming and betting websites, the network had been able to embezzle large quantities of money.

A portion of the money that the “London-based mafia network” received from gamblers would be deposited into their accounts as “gambling gains,” while large amounts of their funds would be transferred to the UK.

The ministry stated that in return for imposing high taxes on the mafia network’s profits, the UK government would turn a blind eye to its money laundering and other illicit activities. Thus, London would “practically pave the way for the culprits’ criminal activities,” the statement read.

Operatives from the ministry also detained five managers who were in charge of the “Pardakht.me” payment gateway and the “Nitro bet” network. They were accused of economic sabotage, operating online casinos, and receiving illegal profits.

The ministry stated that the UK-based network was involved in more than just fraudulent activity and that it was also working to normalize gambling, which is against Islamic teachings, through a variety of media channels.

During last year's unrest in Iran, certain European countries had gone to great lengths to sow instability in Iran by orchestrating plots and ploys which were successfully foiled.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister, Esmail Khatib, said that the government foiled a conspiracy to assassinate several Sunni clergies, judges, and members of the country’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

The plot, which was planned to be carried out “on September 30,” was intended to “fuel ethnic and religious differences” in the country, Khatib said in a visit to Mashhad.

Read more here: https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/496...nline-gambling