Raid on Gambling Establishments in North Rhine-Westphalia
In a bid to combat the rising tide of organized crime, authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, have launched a series of raids targeting illegal gambling dens, shisha bars, betting shops, restaurants, tea rooms, and a disguised gaming den. The operations, which took place in ten cities including Essen, have resulted in the seizure of numerous manipulated slot machines, illegal shisha tobacco, and the closure of several venues.
Essen, considered the main center of illegal activities for organized clans, has been at the forefront of these raids. A hidden entrance was discovered behind a wardrobe in a billiard hall, leading to a back room where three illegal slot machines and a poker table were found. The clans are believed to generate most of their money from these manipulated gaming machines, which serve as money printers for the families.
The fight against clan crime in NRW is marked by several complexities. Recent reports show that police officers face threats related to corruption and intimidation by these crime groups. The possibility that some officers might be bribed by these organizations puts honest officers at risk and undermines confidence in the policeβs ability to combat clan crime effectively.
The investigation involves the NRW police, tax and customs authorities, and gaming experts from the regional government. The LKA presented a situation report on clan criminality in NRW in May 2019, stating that at least 104 clan families are active in the state. The raids in Essen alone saw over 300 police officers seize nine manipulated slot machines and find safety defects on 21 other gaming devices.
The raids have also extended to other cities in NRW, with significant seizures reported in Duisburg. There, 16 unregistered slot machines were seized, along with 34,000 euros in cash, three kilos of illegal shisha tobacco, and the closure of eleven venues due to serious violations of the corona regulations.
The current situation suggests ongoing active investigations with notable difficulties due to corruption risks and violent tactics by criminal clans. The total amount of illegal shisha tobacco seized in Bochum since 2019 is one ton. The authorities are working to address these issues amid concerns about the infiltration of organized crime into official structures.
The fight against clan crime is not limited to NRW. Similar raids have been conducted in Austria, where 38 illegal slot machines were secured, and two poker tables were also seized. However, the investigation in Austria appears more challenging due to machines being replaced overnight, secured in concrete, or prepared with irritant gas. Doors are reported to be electrified when police approach in some illegal gambling establishments in Austria.
The NRW Interior Minister, Herbert Reul (CDU), has expressed a desire for tough action against these criminal activities in the future. The raids in NRW join the ranks of the clan hotspots Berlin, Bremen, Lower Saxony, and East Germany, indicating the widespread nature of this issue across Germany.
What about the seized slot machines in Essen and Duisburg, are they linked to the organized clans generating money for their illegal activities in casino-and-gambling? General-news reports suggest that these raids are part of a broader crackdown on crime-and-justice activities, including threats to corrupt and intimidate police officers, in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), raising concerns about the potential infiltration of organized crime into official structures.
