An alleged underground gambling network is believed to be operating across Malta with minimal interference, despite the submission of intelligence reports to law enforcement by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).

According to an exclusive report by The Shift, no arrests or prosecutions have been publicly reported in connection with the alleged operation, despite documentation pointing to possible money laundering, unlicensed lotto activities, and unregulated sports betting.

The FIAU is understood to have launched an investigation into the suspected illegal enterprise in 2020, following the arrest of Melvin Theuma, the middleman in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Theuma was previously linked to illegal lottery operations.

Intelligence gathered from that investigation, including details of alleged financial misconduct, was forwarded to Malta’s police Financial Crimes and Investigations Department (FCID) in 2023 and 2024.

Despite the volume and detail of this intelligence, sources claim that no formal enforcement actions have been taken to date.

The Shift reports that FIAU documentation outlines how several individuals linked to the alleged network appear to have accumulated significant unexplained wealth, including high-value properties, luxury vehicles, and large sums of undeclared cash.

The FIAU is also said to have shared its findings with local and international financial institutions for further due diligence.

Central figure reportedly identified by FIAU

According to The Shift, the FIAU identified a self-employed individual from Żejtun as a central figure in coordinating the alleged network.

The individual is reportedly operating from a premises located above a bar near the town’s police station, as well as from a villa, allegedly using multiple mobile phones to direct his subordinates.

FIAU intelligence suggest this person may have assumed control of operations previously associated with Theuma.

Some bettors are said to receive printed receipts for wagers, with all transactions reportedly conducted in cash.

The estimated value of weekly bets managed by the alleged network is reportedly in the tens of thousands of euros, according to individuals familiar with the case.

Neither police commissioner Angelo Gafà nor FCID head assistant commissioner Fabian Fleri responded to enquiries from The Shift.

When pressed, a police spokesperson only stated: “The police are not in a position to confirm or deny such information,” citing the classified nature of the reports.

Source