MELBOURNE: Detectives in the southeast Australian state of Victoria have arrested 29 people after discovering two illegal casinos in eastern Melbourne while investigating drug manufacturing.
Victoria Police said in a statement on Friday that officers located the casinos while executing search warrants in Melbourne's eastern suburbs on Aug. 15 and on Tuesday.
In addition to the illegal gambling operations, detectives located and seized 7 kg of methamphetamine, 5 kg of ketamine, large quantities of illicit tobacco and vapes, five firearms, other weapons including machetes, tasers and swords and approximately 600,000 Australian dollars (about 420,813 U.S. dollars) in cash.
Police said 29 people have been arrested, including nine at a northeast Melbourne home during the early stages of the investigation in July.
They included a 25-year-old Thai national who was charged with possessing methamphetamine and possessing a stolen police uniform and a 29-year-old Malaysian national charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
Another 15 people were arrested at the first illegal casino and are all expected to be charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
A 40-year-old woman was arrested at a south Melbourne property on Oct. 8 and has been charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine, which carries a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.
Two staff members were arrested at the second casino and the other two people were arrested during subsequent searches.
Detective Inspector Carlie Kohler from Victoria Police's Clandestine Laboratory Squad said that the arrests were a crucial part of dismantling organized crime at every level.
"Uncovering these casinos and putting an end to the illegal activities taking place inside them helps get drugs and weapons off the streets," she said. - Xinhua
