The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has informed the High Court that its investigation into illegal online gambling in Eswatini has expanded into an international probe into fraud and organized crime. Detective Constable Ntokozo Dlamini, from the Organised Crime Unit, submitted an affidavit detailing how communications recovered from seized devices indicate connections between the criminal enterprise and high-ranking politicians, police officials, and immigration officers.
Currently, forensic examinations are being conducted on over 400 electronic devices with backing from INTERPOL. The agency's report, part of Operation First Light 2026, identifies 240 devices seized and 82 arrests made during the operation in Eswatini.
This initiative was launched following coordinated raids earlier in 2026 on locations in Mbabane and Ezulwini, including the Castle Hotel, which has been identified as a central hub for the syndicate's operations. The initial investigation commenced in March 2026, targeting illegal gambling and immigration violations. During that period, police took into custody 146 foreign nationals, many of whom were Chinese, Taiwanese, Indonesian, Cambodian, and Brazilian.
In the first raid, officers confiscated 313 electronic devices, with the detainees facing charges under the Gaming Control Act, the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, and the Immigration Act. The investigation has since evolved, revealing that the operation was allegedly targeting victims in Brazil and India, while running unlicensed online gambling platforms out of Eswatini.
The syndicate reportedly pooled its illicit gains and converted them into cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, before moving the funds through banks in Abu Dhabi and the United States back into Eswatini.
Additionally, the investigation has unveiled a sophisticated impersonation scam linked to the network. At the Castle Hotel, investigators discovered a makeshift facility simulating a Brazilian police holding area, complete with uniforms, a bulletproof vest, five radios, and a fake Brazilian Federal Police badge.
Members of the scheme impersonated Brazilian Federal Police officers during video calls, informing victims they were under investigation and pressuring them to sign fraudulent confidentiality agreements and transfer funds to accounts purportedly belonging to the Brazilian Central Bank for safekeeping.
INTERPOL has identified around 40 Brazilian citizens who were defrauded in this operation and has deployed its Operational Support Team to Eswatini as part of the ongoing investigation that has led to the interception of illicit assets valued at approximately US$293 million across 97 countries.
There is increasing political pressure on Eswatini’s gambling licensing framework. On June 2, 2026, National Commissioner of Police Vusi Manoma Masango recommended halting the issuance of new gambling licenses pending further investigation. His memo emphasized that continuing to issue licenses could allow further infiltration by criminal actors, compromising national security, economic integrity, and investor confidence.
Masango affirmed to the Times of Eswatini on August 3 that no one, regardless of their political or social standing, is above the law.
The investigation has reached parliamentary discussions, with Senate Deputy President Ndumiso Mdluli calling on Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to determine whether politicians may have unknowingly provided accommodation to individuals involved in illegal gambling activities. Mdluli expressed concern over low penalties for offenders, noting that in June, 84 individuals were convicted of immigration violations rather than gambling offenses, resulting in six-month sentences with options for fines as low as E500 (about $30).
Despite the Gaming Control Act of 2022 being in effect, its regulatory framework is still under development. Consequently, MPs have urged for a pause on new gambling licenses until the implementation regulations are finalized. The Ministry of Tourism has halted new applications, renewing only four existing licenses under strict oversight. The Ministry of Finance has warned that the ongoing lack of regulation could place Eswatini on international financial crime grey lists.
As forensic investigations continue, police anticipate producing a comprehensive report in the future. The findings from this extensive probe could increase pressure on Eswatini to enhance its regulatory and enforcement mechanisms concerning gambling, marking a significant evolution from the original raids in March 2026 targeting unlicensed operations.
