( CNN ) -- A man suspected of being part of a major soccer match-fixing organization has given himself up to Italian police after being a fugitive since December 2011 . Admir Suljic , a former football player , was arrested at Milan 's Malpensa airport Thursday following his arrival from Singapore , having told authorities he would do so via his defense lawyer . The 31-year-old Slovenian has been accused of direct involvement in a transnational criminal group said to be composed of individuals from Singapore and the Balkans which had been targeted by the `` Last Bet '' investigation . Authorities said the group 's activities included influencing the results of Italian league matches during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons . Investigations into this have targeted top clubs such as Napoli , and involved a raid on the Italy team headquarters ahead of Euro 2012 . `` This is exactly the type of result which can be achieved when police share information in real time and use Interpol 's global network to locate , identify and arrest suspects , '' said the head of the worldwide policing agency , Ronald Noble . `` The arrest of this suspected match-fixer could not have been achieved without Italy and Singapore 's close cooperation with Interpol , nor without a great deal of behind-the-scenes work by prosecutors and magistrates . `` Those who doubted Singapore 's ability or commitment to fight match-fixing and bring those wanted for arrest to justice need to understand that Singapore acts when the evidence exists and is shared and when their laws permit . Singapore and Italy remain two of Interpol 's most active and effective member countries . '' Interpol said Suljic was one of more than 500 fugitives wanted by 59 member countries as part of 2012 Operation Infra-Red -- which has so far led to 130 people being arrested or located . He is suspected of working for Singaporean businessman Tan Seet Eng , also known as Dan Tan , who is also wanted by Italian authorities . Italian police said Suljic had `` spent a long period of inaction in Singapore in close contact with other members of the group of this organization , including a well-known Singaporean citizen . '' Meanwhile , Singapore police said Thursday that four senior officers will go to Interpol 's French headquarters in Lyon during the next fortnight to assist in match-fixing investigations . The force said it hoped to help build `` a concrete case '' against the individuals and syndicates involved . `` The team aims to collect available information from these countries and seek their assistance to grant us access to evidence , witnesses and/or suspects whom they believe to be involved in the alleged match-fixing cases , '' read a statement . `` The team will also be exploring avenues to offer our assistance and share available information we have with these affected countries . '' Match-fixing has been described as a `` disease '' afflicting football by the secretary general of world governing body FIFA . On Tuesday , Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua was stripped of its 2003 domestic league title and fined $ 160,000 after a crackdown against such activities . It was one of 12 clubs involved , along with 33 individuals . Four former China internationals and an ex-World Cup referee were banned for life , having been jailed a year ago for the same offenses . Interpol 's European equivalent Europol has also revealed that 380 matches on the continent are under investigation , including top-level Champions League games . The international players ' union FIFPro said in December that it is planning to launch an online match-fixing `` hotline '' for its members . On Wednesday , the acting president of the Asian Football Confederation highlighted the need to eliminate match-fixing from the game . `` We need to admit that match-fixing is a real danger to football 's ethical values and needs to be eliminated to preserve the sanctity of the sport , '' Zhang Jilong told delegates at the Interpol conference in Kuala Lumpur . `` Match-fixing is too complex and widespread for one organization to fight it alone . To fight this , we need a joint and coordinated effort . '' Interpol official Dale Sheehan highlighted the social costs of match-fixing . `` Criminals can make millions in illicit profits from match-fixing with little risk of being detected and will exploit every opportunity , '' he said at the conference . `` Sports and fair play are the very fabric of our society and youth , and the impact of match-fixing -- including murder , suicide , assault and threats -- has the ability to undermine that very fabric . ''
Match-fixing suspect arrested at Milan 's Malpensa airport on Thursday . Admir Suljic tells authorities that he is boarding a flight from Singapore . Slovenian citizen had been on the run since December 2011 . Comment: