More than 4,100 people were arrested in co-ordinated raids across 11 different countries during Euro 2016 in one of the largest global police operations against illegal gambling in Asia.

Nearly 4,000 raids were carried out in China, France, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam on illegal gambling dens as part of Operation SOGA VI – the sixth investigation into football gambling by Interpol, the organisation which facilitates cross-border police work.

A second operation, called Aces, targeted illicit betting websites and call centre-type operations in Cambodia, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

More than £10 million was seized in the two operations, although Interpol estimates the illegal dens handled nearly £500m in bets during Euro 2016.

“Illegal gambling generates massive profits for organised crime networks which are often linked to corruption, human trafficking and money laundering,” said Jim Anderson, the head of Interpol’s anti-corruption and financial crimes unit.

The six SOGA operations have resulted in more than 12,500 arrests in total, the seizure of £40m in cash and the closure of more than 3,400 illegal gambling dens which handled almost £4.85 billion worth of bets.

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