The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) has informed the High Court that its investigation into illegal online gambling in the country has escalated into a broader inquiry targeting international fraud and organized crime. Detective Constable Ntokozo Dlamini, representing the Organized Crime Unit, outlined in an affidavit that evidence obtained from seized devices suggests connections between the illicit operation and high-ranking politicians, police, and immigration officials.
Currently, over 400 electronic devices are undergoing forensic analysis, with support from INTERPOL. The agency’s official report on the operation, designated as Operation First Light 2026, notes that 240 devices were confiscated, and 82 individuals have been arrested due to the specific actions taken in Eswatini.
The devices were seized during coordinated raids throughout Mbabane and Ezulwini earlier in 2026. Notably, the Castle Hotel in Mbabane has been identified as a key command center for the syndicate involved.
Initially, the investigation focused on domestic illegal gambling and immigration violations. In March 2026, police launched raids across multiple sites in Mbabane, apprehending 146 foreign nationals, including individuals from China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Brazil. During this phase, officers confiscated 313 electronic devices. The suspects are facing charges under the Gaming Control Act, as well as the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, alongside immigration breaches.
The forensic investigation has expanded the scope of the probe. Detective Constable Dlamini reported that materials extracted from the devices indicate an organized scheme targeting victims in both Brazil and India, using unlicensed online gambling platforms from within Eswatini.
According to investigators, the syndicate funneled its illicit profits into cryptocurrency, primarily USDT, before transferring the funds through banks in Abu Dhabi and the United States, ultimately redirecting them back into Eswatini.
Moreover, the investigation uncovered a sophisticated impersonation scam connected to the criminal network. Evidence indicated that a makeshift Brazilian police holding facility was established at Castle Hotel, outfitted with Brazilian police uniforms, communication equipment, and a fake Brazilian Federal Police badge. Members of the operation posed as Brazilian Federal Police during video calls, falsely informing victims they were under criminal investigation and pressuring them to sign counterfeit "confidentiality agreements" and transfer money to accounts purportedly held by the Brazilian Central Bank for "safekeeping."
Around 40 Brazilian citizens were identified as victims of this fraud. As part of Operation First Light 2026, INTERPOL dispatched its Operational Support Team to Eswatini, which facilitated the interception of illicit assets valued at approximately $293 million across 97 countries.
The investigation has also placed increasing scrutiny on Eswatini’s licensing framework for gambling. National Police Commissioner Vusi Manoma Masango formally requested the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs to halt the issuance of new gambling licenses pending the outcome of the investigation, promoting concerns that ongoing licensing could facilitate further criminal activity.
Masango asserted, "No individual is above the law, regardless of rank or political influence, and we do not fear them," emphasizing accountability in the process.
The matter has now reached the Parliament of Eswatini; Senate Deputy President Ndumiso Mdluli has urged Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini to investigate whether some politicians may unknowingly be renting property to foreign nationals involved in illegal gambling. Mdluli expressed concerns about the relatively lenient penalties, noting that in June, 84 foreign nationals were convicted mainly for immigration offenses, receiving minimal penalties under the Gaming Act.
While Eswatini’s Gaming Control Act of 2022 is currently in place, the regulations necessary for its implementation are still under development. There have been calls from MPs to freeze new licensing applications until these regulations are finalized, originating during a House of Assembly session in December 2025.
The Ministry of Tourism has paused new gambling license applications, only renewing four existing licenses under increased supervision. The Ministry of Finance warned the High Court that the lack of regulation could lead to Eswatini being placed on international financial crime grey lists.
The forensic analysis of the devices continues, with police promising a detailed report in the future. The findings from this investigation might compel Eswatini to reinforce its regulatory and enforcement measures surrounding gambling. What started in March 2026 as raids on unauthorized gambling operations has evolved into a wide-ranging case entangling numerous victims within a highly sophisticated scheme, likely prompting significant changes in future gambling regulation.
