Police uncover another clandestine bingo hall in Campinas 

Police in Campinas, São Paulo, uncovered a clandestine bingo hall in the city’s Vila Teixeira district after responding to an unusual report of a possible kidnapping. 

Upon arrival, Military Police officers requested assistance from the Fire Department to break down the door of the property, where they instead discovered 25 people gambling and eight employees operating an illegal betting venue.

Inside, authorities seized 91 slot machines and detained everyone present for questioning. According to the police, the incident began when a tip-off suggested that someone was being held captive inside the building, probably due to the noise. 

After forcing entry, officers found no victims… but, instead, exposed a large-scale unlicensed gaming operation running in a residential area.

The case was referred to the Civil Police, which will continue investigating the ownership and financial structure behind the establishment. 

The slot machines are set to be destroyed and those involved may face charges related to illegal gambling and money laundering, depending on the outcome of the inquiry.

The raid comes just weeks after another illegal bingo operation was shut down in Campinas, but in a different neighborhood. 

That venue, closed by police in September, had resumed operations within a month, with 55 slot machines and several patrons caught on-site.

Investigators believe that many of these venues are part of a larger underground network, linked to organized operators, who frequently relocate or reopen after police interventions. 

Law enforcement agencies have promised continued coordination to dismantle these operations and prevent new ones from emerging.

Mark Sullivan

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