San Francisco Shuts Down Nine Storefront Gambling, Drug Dens
San Francisco law enforcement officials announced last Thursday that the city has uncovered several secret gambling and drug dens masquerading as convenience stores.
San Francisco Dens Violated Numerous Laws
According to City Attorney David Chiu, at least nine such dens have been shut down or sued over the past 18 months in the Tenderloin for engaging in a wide range of illegal activities.
The dens have been accused of running illegal gambling operations, trafficking in stolen goods, possessing firearms, selling illegal drugs, and violating the city’s nighttime safety ordinance.
“These convenience stores were magnets for drug activity, and, in some cases, the stores were selling illegal drugs themselves,” Chiu said.
“The nighttime safety ordinance has been helpful in putting these stores on our radar and giving us additional tools to shut down problematic businesses.”
US Smoke Shop, Ed’s Market Among Stores
The City Attorney’s Office has filed litigation against SF Discount Market, EZ Dollar Discount Store, Ed’s Market, Family Corner Discounts, US Smoke Shop, and TL Market and Deli.
Three businesses — IG Mini Mart, Sing Sing Café, and Fullmoon Gift & More Inc — were also evicted after the City Attorney’s Office contacted property owners about the illegal activity.
According to the news release, the SFPD executed a search warrant at EZ Dollar Discount Store and seized six slot machines, $2,181 in cash, a payment ledger, prizes in the form of Visa gift cards, a Bluetooth speaker, and a solar charger and watch.
Police also confiscated stolen merchandise on display for sale with Walgreens, CVS, Safeway, Big 5, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Harbor Freight branding.
Police Seized Drugs, Slot Machines At SF Discount Market
In addition, the SFPD executed a search warrant at SF Discount Market and seized nine gambling slot machines, a high-capacity magazine for a Glock handgun, additional ammunition, 83 grams of cannabis, small plastic bags commonly used to sell cannabis, a digital scale, and $10,054 in cash.
Officers also seized contraband and stolen property displayed for sale, including cartons of cigarettes, 17 iPhones, and merchandise with original price stickers from stores such as Walgreens and Sephora.
“The San Francisco Police Department is committed to keeping our streets clean and safe, and that includes cracking down on businesses violating the Nighttime Safety Ordinance or engaging in other illegal activity,” said SFPD Chief Derrick Lew.
“We will continue to be relentless in our enforcement against illegal drug markets in every way imaginable. Thank you to City Attorney David Chiu and our other city partners in this crucial work.”
Chiu added that the San Francisco Board of Supervisors is hoping to expand the nighttime safety ordinance in efforts to curtail late-night illegal activity.
This news comes nearly two weeks after Santa Anita Park filed a lawsuit against the California DOJ over the seizure of its betting machines
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