The Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) announced this Wednesday that it intercepted an illegal distributor of gaming machines and seized material with an estimated value of 11 thousand euros, in Ferreira do Alentejo county.
In a statement, ASAE explains that, last week, carried out a crime prevention operation, several inspection actions aimed at combating the illicit exploitation of games of chance in that municipality in Alentejo, through the Southern Regional Unit – Évora Operational Unit.
In total, they were inspected “five economic operators”, including “an illegal distributor of gaming machines”, le was not communicated.
ASAE says it carried out a non-home search in a vehicle, with seizure 20 equipment intended for illegal gambling, a technological device for synchronizing and digitally developing online games and various documentation.
Besides, in this action, an illegal class E weapon was seized and two individuals were identified, against whom a criminal case was opened for possession of a prohibited weapon and exploitation of games of chance outside legally authorized locations.
ASAE also guarantees that it will continue to develop combat and repression actions, throughout the national territory, “the scourge of illegal gambling and its related crimes”, combating and trying to alleviate the resulting social problems.
22 November 2023: Dcaught in the act by ASAE programming illegal gaming machines.
Five people were detained, in the municipalities of Évora, Beja and Ferreira do Alentejo, programming illegal gambling machines. The Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE) seized 156 fortune or chance machines and equipment (in file photo) no value 160 thousand euros.
ASAE carried out, in recent weeks, through the Southern Regional Unit – Évora Operational Unit, an inspection operation to combat the illicit exploitation of games, directed to a stockist and distributor operating in the municipalities of Évora, Beja and Ferreira do Alentejo.
As a result of the investigation, five criminal cases were opened for the exploitation of games of chance, and the arrest was made, in flagrante delicto, of five individuals who were digitally programming the game material, having proceeded, immediately, the dismantling of a clandestine location where the material was stored.
ASAE seized 156 gaming machines, a vehicle used for the distribution of illegal gambling material, various components and tools, all at a global value estimated at 160 thousand euros.
