Posted on: September 28, 2023, 11:48h.
Last updated on: September 28, 2023, 11:48h.
An illegal gambling den in Oakland, California was recently shut down following a court-ordered search. Law enforcement apprehended three suspects and seized several firearms.
During the raid on Tuesday at the 77th Avenue operation, authorities discovered a handgun, rifle, and shotgun, as reported by local news agency Bay City News. Additionally, gambling machines were seized.
The suspects, who remain unnamed, were arrested on outstanding warrants.
Furthermore, local police found evidence believed to be connected to a recent murder. However, details about the homicide have not been disclosed.
The investigation involved the Oakland Police Department (OPD), the U.S. Marshals Service Task Force, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and officers from the San Ramon Police Department.
The OPD Criminal Investigation Division is currently examining the evidence collected at the illicit casino.
Oakland police have expressed their commitment to continuing investigations into illegal gambling dens and have warned landlords that they may face fines if such operations are discovered on their properties.
Prior Oakland Raids
In July, a raid on an illegal gambling den in Oakland resulted in the arrest of four men on weapons charges.
Each suspect faced charges related to illegal gun possession or illegal firearm activity following the search on July 5. The den was located in the city’s Fruitvale neighborhood on East 16th Street.
The suspects, aged between 19 and 23, are residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. Their identities have not been released.
Law enforcement seized three guns, numerous magazines, an undisclosed sum of cash, ledgers, and slot machines during the operation.
According to CBS News, one of the firearms was an assault-style rifle, and several extended magazines were also confiscated.
This court-ordered search marked the third raid at the same location within a year, according to Oakland City Councilmember Noel Gallo, who chairs the council’s public safety committee.
In July, Gallo revealed that there were five illegal gambling dens operating within close proximity to each other, with some operating as legitimate businesses during the day.
Gallo explained that one den can be raided, only for another to open soon after. He added that it can be difficult to encourage residents to report such illegal activities.
More Than a Dozen Gambling Sites
Since 2020, local police in Oakland have identified over a dozen illegal gambling dens operating in the area.
At least three of these operations have been subject to raids.