Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced the arrest of several suspects accused of running illegal online gambling and betting operations. The operation, carried out by the Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Cybercrime, targeted a criminal network allegedly luring citizens into illicit gaming through social media channels.
Among those detained were Agil Mamedzade, identified as the head of one of the groups, and his associates Orkhan Gozalov, Elmar Gozalov, Tajir Mamedzade, Emil Amrahli, as well as Ulvi Mamedov, who allegedly led a parallel network.
Investigators say the suspects maintained connections with gambling organizers based outside Azerbaijan, obtaining secret access codes for platforms such as fastloto.com and others. Using social media, they created virtual “cash desks” under names like Kral Kazino to recruit players for cash-based online gambling.
Court-authorized searches of hidden offices, apartments, and storage facilities uncovered electronic devices, bank cards, foreign SIM cards, and other incriminating evidence.
The Main Directorate has launched a criminal case under relevant articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. A court has ordered pretrial detention for Mamedzade, Mamedov, and other members of the group pending further investigation.
