San Diego police pulled the plug on what they say were two illegal gambling setups this week, hauling away roughly 62 slot machines along with a large stash of cash and suspected narcotics, and detaining several people in the process. The twin operations targeted a game room on El Cajon Boulevard in San Diego and a separate storage site in Chula Vista, officials said.
Where officers hit
On Tuesday morning, officers served a warrant at an alleged illicit gaming lounge on El Cajon Boulevard near 48th Street, where they removed 23 slot machines and seized cash and drugs while detaining several people, according to NBC 7 San Diego. Photos published with that report show powered-up machines lined against the walls and folding chairs set out for players. Police have not released the names of anyone detained or listed specific charges.
Second search in Chula Vista
The crackdown picked up again the next morning when investigators searched a site in the 1100 block of 3rd Avenue in Chula Vista, where they recovered another 39 machines and what authorities described as a "large" amount of money, according to El Imparcial. The outlet reported that the two actions combined added up to about 62 seized machines and that officers searched storage units at the Chula Vista location. With the investigation still active, officials have kept quiet on what charges may follow.
Police: Why they acted
In a news release, the San Diego Police Department said illegal gambling spots "can blight a neighborhood, attracting criminal activity like drug sales and violence," wording cited by NBC 7 San Diego in its coverage of the raids. Detectives said they launched the investigations after receiving tips and as part of broader enforcement efforts aimed at shutting down unlicensed storefront operations.
A recurring crackdown
Regional law enforcement is no stranger to these small, off-the-books gaming rooms. Similar searches in recent years have turned up slot machines, narcotics and other evidence in neighborhoods such as Kensington and City Heights, according to reporting by ABC 10News. Police say these operations often surface in the middle of investigations into other criminal activity.
How to report
Authorities asked anyone with information about illegal gambling to call the San Diego Police non-emergency line at 619-531-2000 or send an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477, according to the City of San Diego. Investigators say the probe is ongoing and are urging witnesses or nearby residents with information to come forward.
