Police have arrested 11 people suspected of running an illegal gambling house.
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It was a full house, but the cops had a better hand.
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A raid by police arrested 11 people at three locations, including at a suspected illegal gambling house in Maple Ridge.
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B.C’s anti-gang police, the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, began investigating in November and obtained search warrants for three properties, in Maple Ridge, Coquitlam and Surrey.
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A shotgun with a suppressor, $34,000 in cash and gambling equipment including ledgers, poker tables, custom poker chips embossed with “J&J’s Poker Club,” cards and other gambling items were seized during the course of the investigation. Three vehicles, a 2012 Dodge Caravan, 2017 Range Rover and a 2024 Honda CRV, were impounded.
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Sunrise
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“Illegal gaming houses aren’t harmless operations — they are often tied to organized crime and bring significant risks to public safety,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha. “These locations can become hubs for violence, exploitation and other criminal activity, putting both patrons and surrounding communities in danger.”
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The 11 individuals were released, but charges are expected to be laid in the case. Six of the individuals were banned from B.C. casinos following work by the province’s independent gambling control office and the CFSEU’s anti-gambling team.
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Information about illegal gambling, and specifically illegal gambling houses, can be found by visiting notworththegamble.ca.
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