Vietnam’s bust of a major illegal online sports betting operation has ensnared two top tech businessmen as well as the nation’s former top cybercrime police chief.

On Sunday, Vietnam authorities announced the takedown of a major online gambling operation based in the northern province of Phu Tho. Police raids resulted in the seizure of around VND1t (US$44m) in cash and other assets from the organizers, who reportedly had as many as 8m clients in Vietnam and abroad.

Among the 38 individuals arrested is Major General Nguyen Thanh Hoa, the former head of the Ministry of Public Security’s ‘C50’ cybercrime division. Hoa (pictured), who was stripped of his ceremonial ‘People’s Police’ title on Sunday, had been suspended from duty late last year over suspicions of involvement in illegal gambling activity.

Police say Hoa uncovered the illegal gambling operation through the course of his duties, but instead of taking it down, chose to provide it with protection services. Other C50 officers are reportedly under suspicion of involvement in the illegal gambling operation.