The Government of Iran has recently disclosed the takedown of an enormous gambling ring operated out of the UK. Labelled as the country’s largest online betting and gambling network, this illicit operation was involved in more than just bending the laws.
The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence detailed that the deceptive operation stemmed from the United Kingdom. The Ministry announced the successful bust on Saturday, concluding a meticulous, in-depth investigation spanning over a period of 14 months, involving rigorous intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Post the disbandment of this illicit network, the Ministry revealed the criminals utilized a staggering 54 gambling and betting websites to unlawfully accumulate enormous financial wealth. The operation tuned through 35,006 bank accounts and included 1,200 payment gateways, as disclosed in the official data.
Moreover, the diligent Iranian authorities succeeded in apprehending five key executives linked to the management of the Nitro Bet network and the Pardakht.me payment gateway. The arrested personnel now face multiple charges, ranging from operating online gambling sites to securing illicit monetary assets and economic destabilization.
Iran Holds the UK Accountable for Inaction Against the Unlawful Operation
The Iranian officials further asserted that the illegal operation promoted gambling activities in Iran, a territory where gambling is stringently prohibited in compliance with Islamic law. It was also accused of attempting to normalize the concept of betting within the region.
Per claims from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, the fraudulent operation was rooted in London and a prominent share of its proceedings was funneled to the UK. Describing it as a “London-based mafia network”, Iran condemned the UK government for failing to take appropriate action against the operation.
The Ministry alleged that the British government showed indifference towards the network’s activities, seduced by the considerable tax income generated from the operation. They further accused the UK Government of essentially facilitating the gambling network’s illegal maneuvers.
Iran’s Stance on Proliferation of Crypto Mining
In the past, the Iranian government grappled with the surge in crypto mining. Three years prior, the explosive growth in cryptocurrencies led to significant disruptions in power supply across the country. Consequently, Iran adopted a repressive attitude towards crypto mining operations, resulting in the suspension of the mining activities and confiscation of mining equipment.
Nevertheless, mining permissions were eventually granted in 2022, provided the miners adhered to specific licensing requirements duly introduced by Iran.
