ON December 1, 2022, following a comprehensive investigation headed by the Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit, a search warrant was executed on a suspected gaming house inside a residential home in the 6000-block of Skaha Crescent.
Several law enforcement partner agencies, namely Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit – British Columbia’s Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (CFSEU-JIGIT), CFSEU-Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (CFSEU-UGET), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and the LMD Police Dog Services (PDS) unit, assisted Richmond RCMP in the investigation.
A total of 16 individuals were arrested. The majority of them were actively participating in gaming. Two individuals, a 45-year old woman from Richmond and a 49-year old man from Surrey, were determined to be caretakers of the gaming house. Two individuals, a 34-year old man from Richmond and a 38-year old woman from Vancouver, were determined to be professional card dealers.
During the course of the search, items included over $14,000 in Canadian currency; gambling ledgers; an automated Mahjong table; and poker table, chips, and cards.
Investigators also learned that one of the caretakers of the house and one of the card dealers were not Canadian citizens and subject to deportation.
“Illegal gaming houses are one piece of the larger organized crime puzzle. This was highly successful operation by our detachment and our partner agencies. Not only were we able to safely dismantle this gaming house but we were able to gather valuable intelligence,” says Staff-Sgt. Patrick Damgajian, Unit Commander, Richmond RCMP Organized Crime Unit.
“We will continue systematically identifying and investigate all such establishments and mitigate the further spread of them in our community.”
“CFSEU-BC’s Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team is able to provide expertise and operational support to partner agencies investigating suspected illegal gambling houses and we often work closely with the Richmond RCMP,” says Sgt. Brenda Winpenny, CFSEU-BC Media Relations Officer.
“Illegal gaming often has a nexus to other serious criminal offences and CFSEU-BC and our partners are collectively looking at every opportunity to work together and mitigate the negative impacts of organized crime in our communities.”