Amsterdam – The police and the Gaming Authority jointly raided a business premises on the Nieuwpoortkade in Amsterdam-West last Saturday evening. The police did this in response to information about illegal commercial gambling from the building. Shortly before midnight, several suspects are caught in the act of participating in an illegal poker game.
Playing cards, drugs and firearms
In addition to playing cards and other poker supplies, the investigation team also found two blocks of hashish and two firearms, partly due to the presence of a sniffer dog. Several electronic data carriers were also seized for the purpose of the investigation. This includes telephones, hard drives and carriers of video and camera images. The criminal investigation department is still investigating who the owner or owners of the firearms are.
Arrests
A total of eleven people were arrested in this raid. The criminal investigation department is conducting further investigations into a few persons present, so that they can be tried appropriately at a later stage. Officials from the Gaming Authority supported the police during the entry and are preparing a report on what they found there.
Danger to public order
Illegal gambling involves unfair competition with companies that do have a license and must comply with all kinds of rules, for example to prevent gambling addiction among customers. The presence of this kind of illegal gambling activities and narcotics on a business park constitutes an infringement of public order. In addition, places where illegal gambling takes place are a breeding ground for crime and these places offer the opportunity to launder criminal money. There is a chance that this will attract people who are not afraid to use violence. That is why the police, municipality, FIOD and the Tax and Customs Administration regularly join forces to tackle this phenomenon.
Reporting helps
Your observation can also be absolutely valuable in tackling illegal gambling, drug trafficking, violence or other subversive crime. Do you suspect that illegal gambling is taking place somewhere? Or that other things are happening that are not right? Call 112 when every second counts. Call 0900-8844 if there is no emergency. You can report anonymously via Meld Misdaad Anoniem: 0800-7000. There is also the possibility to speak confidentially with the police via the Criminal Intelligence Team on 088 – 661 77 34.
Call the police
0900-8844
Call the Criminal Intelligence Team
088 – 661 77 34
Respond online
Report Crime Anonymously
Report by phone or online
Information source: Politie.nl
