Honolulu Police are cracking down on illegal gambling, with two busts that took place earlier this month. The first raid, which targeted an illegal gambling room on Wanini Street in Waialua, was carried out by the Honolulu Police Department's (HPD) Narcotics/Vice Division, District 2 Crime Reduction Unit (CRU), and the Specialized Services Division. According to an official release from the HPD, officers seized 14 gambling machines and more than $4,000 in cash.
In the course of the Wanini Street operation, a 27-year-old woman was arrested for her alleged part in swiftly promoting gambling in the second degree and for possession of a gambling device. Additionally, a 40-year-old man and a 49-year-old man faced separate arrests due to criminal contempt of court warrants. The precise details of their charges were not disclosed.
Continuing their efforts, HPD's NVD, with the assistance of District 3 CRU and SSD, hit two illegal gambling rooms on Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City the next day. The operation led to the discovery of another 34 gambling machines and the confiscation of more than $9,000 in cash, further demonstrating the police's commitment to curtail illegal gambling activities in the area.
During this second bust, a patron was caught in the act and arrested for criminal contempt of court and two outstanding arrest warrants. The HPD has urged the public to actively join them to combat illegal gambling by reporting any such activities to their 24-hour hotline at 808-723-3933 or through an online form available on their website.
