B.C. anti-gang unit says 11 arrested in illegal gambling investigation

During the property searches, investigators seized more than $34,000 in cash and three vehicles, described as a 2012 Dodge Caravan, a 2017 Range Rover and a 2024 Honda CRV. (Handout)

Eleven people were arrested after British Columbia’s anti-gang police raided a suspected illegal casino in Metro Vancouver, seizing vehicles, tens of thousands of dollars in cash and a shotgun fitted with a suppressor, authorities said Thursday.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. says it executed multiple search warrants on April 29 in the communities of Maple Ridge, Surrey and Coquitlam.

The raids were the culmination of an investigation that began last November into a suspected illegal gaming house in Maple Ridge. All of those who were arrested were later released pending completion of the charge assessment process, police said.

During the property searches, investigators seized more than $34,000 in cash and three vehicles, described as a 2012 Dodge Caravan, a 2017 Range Rover and a 2024 Honda CRV.

Police also took custody of gambling-related equipment, including poker tables, casino-style chips, cards and ledgers.

A statement Thursday from the CFSEU-BC says the agency worked with the provincial Independent Gambling Control Office to obtain casino bans for six of the individuals arrested.

Those bans took effect on April 30, the CFSEU-BC said.

“Illegal gaming houses are not harmless operations—they are often tied to organized crime and bring significant risks to public safety,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha in a statement.

“These locations can become hubs for violence, exploitation, and other criminal activity, putting both patrons and surrounding communities in danger.”