TWO individuals have been charged following an investigation by the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) into an illegal gaming operation in the Lower Mainland.
In March 2023, JIGIT began their investigation into an illegal gaming site that quickly evolved into investigations of multiple gaming houses. During the course of the investigation, multiple search warrants were executed in Burnaby and Vancouver. The following items were seized during the investigation:
* Approximately 145 kilograms of illegal tobacco
* Approximately $240,000
* Gaming tables and equipment
* Multiple electronic devices, including cell phones, tablets, laptops and digitalvideo recorders (DVR)
On August 26, 2026, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against two individuals with the following offences:
* Shahrouz Younesi, 54, of Burnaby: keeping a commongaming house; and the sale of unstamped tobacco products.
* Xiaoyi “Karen” Zhang, 46 of Vancouver: keeping a commongaming house.
Additionally, all illicit gaming proceeds and equipment were forfeited to the Province of British Columbia.
Both individuals are expected to appear in court at a later date.
“This investigation highlights the scale and complexity of illegal gaming operations and the significant resources required to disrupt them,” says Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha, Media Relations Officer for CFSEU-BC. “The resulting charges, seizures and forfeitures reflect the dedication of our investigators and the strength of our partnerships. By working together with our law enforcement and government partners, we are helping protect the integrity and safety of communities across British Columbia.”
Those who assisted in the investigation included Burnaby RCMP, Vancouver Police Department, Integrated Emergency Response Team, BC Ministry of Finance and Canada Revenue Agency.
