MAPUSA

Goa police today arrested 11 persons involved in a major `matka’ (gambling) racket.

The raid by a team led by Superintendent of Police (North) Chandan Chaudhury at a house in Pernem, also led to the seizure of Rs 60 lakh in cash and several mobile phones.

Eleven persons including house owner Reginaldo D’Costa were arrested, the SP said.

D’Costa had allegedly employed these men to accept bets on the phone, she said.

“We have managed to break a big matka gambling network which has links even in Mumbai,” said the officer.

The local police stations at Pernem and Siolim were not informed about the raid, Chaudhary said. The Bombay High Court at Goa had recently ordered the Crime Branch to crack down on matka dens by forming a special squad.