News

Gaming machines seized

POLICE investigating money laundering and illegal gambling have seized machines and cash worth more than £500,000 in Belfast and Lisburn.

Premises were searched at Shaftesbury Square and Lisburn Road in Belfast and Chapel Hill in Lisburn. More than 100 illegal gaming machines and three casino roulette machines were seized, along with around £200,000 in cash in an operation conducted over several days this week.

The roulette machines are worth an estimated £100,000 each.

Police said a 63-year-old man from Lurgan was arrested on suspicion of managing and organising illegal gambling and

money laundering and was later bailed to attend Musgrave police station in Belfast in March.

Officers from Britain's Home Office also arrested a man in his forties on suspicion of an immigration offence. Detective Superintendent Andrea McMullan, from the Organised Crime Branch, said: "Following a protracted investigation, detectives and experts from the Gambling Commission UK believe that casino and high-stake gambling machines were being operated in these premises in breach of the relevant licences. "In addition to the substantial amount of cash seized, we believe the three roulette machines have a value of £100,000 each.

"We seized a further 130 smaller gaming machines which are worth around £1,000 each. "We have worked with district policing colleagues and partners in the Gambling Commission and Immigration Enforcement to stop what we believe were premises being used for illegal gambling and money laundering."