Major raid against illegal gambling in Elmshorn
Last weekend, there was a major operation against illegal gambling in Elmshorn, a town near Hamburg. During the searches, which were carried out late on Saturday evening, the authorities found a total of 20 allegedly unlicensed slot machines safe. The Schleswig-Holstein Public Prosecutor's Office, the Itzehoe Main Customs Office, the Bad Segeberg Police Department and the Elmshorn Public Order Office were in charge of the operation.
Around 90 police officers and 22 customs officers searched several restaurants in Elmshorn. The aim was to take action against various forms of illegal gambling as well as other criminal offenses and administrative offenses. According to a press release, not only were slot machines confiscated, but evidence was also seized in a total of eight properties.
results of the raids
In addition to the machines, investigators discovered a number of other violations:
- commercial law defects, such as missing fire protection measures and inadequately marked emergency exits.
- Unauthorized serving of alcohol in some restaurants.
- narcotics in small quantitiesfound in one of the objects.
In addition, an adjacent apartment was searched, where, as in other locations, cash in the low five-figure range was seized.
The raids in Elmshorn are not isolated. Authorities in northwest Lower Saxony had already carried out similar measures the previous week. At that time, over 400 officers searched several bars, apartments and business premises. The aim was to break up networks of criminal groups that were involved in illegal gambling and tax evasion.
Legal consequences
Although no arrests were reported, the operators of the establishments under investigation can expect serious consequences. If the suspicion of illegal gambling and other crimes is confirmed, the accused could face heavy fines or prison sentences. Possible violations of trade law and the Narcotics Act could also lead to further proceedings.
The major raid in Elmshorn underlines the increasing efforts of the authorities to consistently combat illegal gambling. In addition to seizing the slot machines and other evidence, the operation shows that accompanying violations, such as the unauthorized sale of alcohol or inadequate security measures, are also increasingly coming into focus. The results illustrate the importance of such measures in not only preventing criminal activities, but also ensuring greater security and legality in public spaces.
