Police have arrested 11 people and seized a suppressed shotgun, more than $34,000 in cash, and three vehicles following an investigation into an suspected illegal gaming house in Maple Ridge, B.C.
On April 29, investigators with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia’s (CFSEU-BC) Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) and Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (UGET) executed multiple search warrants in Maple Ridge, Coquitlam and Surrey.
The operation was assisted by the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, the Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO), Surrey Police Service, Coquitlam RCMP, and Maple Ridge RCMP.
The investigation began in November 2025, when JIGIT started looking into a suspected Illegal Gaming House operating in Maple Ridge.
During the searches, police seized:
- A shotgun with a suppressor
- Over $34,000 CAD
- Three vehicles: a 2012 Dodge Caravan, a 2017 Range Rover, and a 2024 Honda CRV
- Gaming equipment including ledgers, poker tables, custom casino-style chips, cards and other gambling paraphernalia
The 11 individuals arrested were later released pending the charge assessment process. The investigation remains ongoing, and charges are anticipated.
The IGCO and JIGIT worked quickly to obtain BC casino bans on six of the individuals arrested, which took effect on April 30, 2026 — just one day after the searches.
“Illegal gaming houses are not harmless operations — they are often tied to organized crime and bring significant risks to public safety,” said Sgt. Sarbjit K. Sangha, CFSEU-BC Media Relations Officer. “These locations can become hubs for violence, exploitation, and other criminal activity, putting both patrons and surrounding communities in danger.”
Police are encouraging the public to learn more about the risks of illegal gambling at notworththegamble.ca.
