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The RCMP on Sunday raided a Super Bowl party attended by some 2500 people and, in so doing, claims to have dismantled an alleged mob-linked multi-million dollar illegal gambling ring.
Many of Canada’s more successful bookies were in attendance at the “invite-only” party as heavily armed tactical officers entered the premises at Le Parc Banquet Hall in Markham, Ontario.
“Myself and a couple friends had gotten up to go to the washroom and grab a drink, as we approached the main entrance of the hall, about 100 plus cops and SWAT members equipped with heavy artillery ran in straight lines and swarmed all five rooms in the hall,” patron Luigi Caruso told the National Post.
“Nobody had an idea of what to do or what was going on, each officer kept yelling ‘search warrant’ and it was pretty clear that they knew exactly who they came in there for.”
Information from their search warrant was read out over a loud speaker as the facility was slowly cleared, according to those in attendance. Many of those in attendance began to chant in unison for the RCMP to leave the premises.
The coordinator of the event took to the loud speaker and addressed the crowd, telling them to “let the police do their raid and then bet the fuck out”.
The RCMP-led Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit was behind the raid, according to the National Post.
“The lengthy, joint-forces investigation revealed the illegal gaming enterprise was allegedly run by organized crime groups. The warrant was executed at an invitation-only annual gambling event held on Super Bowl Sunday,” said Constable Blair McQuillan of York Regional Police in a written statement.
A press conference was slated for today (February 4, 2013).
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
