THREE people have been charged after the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) conducted an investigation into an illegal gaming house.
In October 2020, the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) responded to a residence in the 200-block of West 45 Avenue after receiving a 911 call. VPD officers observed evidence of an alleged illegal gaming house.
CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT was immediately engaged and began an investigation into the alleged illegal gaming house activity and executed several search warrants in relation to the investigation. Evidence gathered indicated that the Vancouver residence was being rented for the purpose of setting up and operating an alleged illegal gaming establishment.
The search warrants resulted in a number of items being seized including:
* Score sheets with client names and cash balance sheets;
* Cellular phones;
* Money counter;
* $220,775.60 in Canadian cash; and
* Poker chips, poker tables and playing cards.
Charged with one count each of keeping a common gaming house are three males:
* Rong Zan Wu, 45, of Burnaby
* Wen Bo Li, 47, of Burnaby
* Mun Bun Ng, 55, of Vancouver
“CFSEU-BC continues to target all aspects of criminal activities including illegal gaming as a part of a coordinated organized crime enforcement strategy in B.C. Illegal gaming activities undermine the integrity of our financial institutions and allow criminals to secure the proceeds of crime not just for personal benefit but to fuel additional crimes. Enforcement action such as this one has a strong immediate impact and long-term disruption implications,” said Inspector Mandeep Mooker, Investigations Officer of the CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT.
CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT enters into investigations adhering to its mandate as follows:
To provide a dedicated, integrated and coordinated multi-jurisdictional investigative and enforcement response to illegal gaming in B.C. with an emphasis on top-tier organized crime and gangs. These crimes include money laundering; corruption and infiltration; loan-sharking and predatory lending; internet gaming; video gaming machine and device distribution; offshore lottery schemes; high-limit card rooms and underground casinos; sophisticated bookmaking operations.
