$1.9B Illegal Gambling Ring Busted After Leader Kidnapped for Ransom

South Korean police have dismantled a $1.9 billion illegal gambling ring whose suspected leader was kidnapped for a $10 million ransom, only to be arrested himself after police rescued him and discovered he was wanted by Interpol. South Korea’s North Chungcheong Provincial Police Agency announced Tuesday (Nov. 3) that 43 suspected members of the international gambling operation had been apprehended, with 18 detained. The syndicate allegedly operated nine illegal gambling websites from bases in Malaysia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates, offering sports betting, baccarat, and slots.