The GNR Tax Action Unit seized 495 gaming machines on Monday in commercial establishments, warehouses and residences in the districts of Faro, Beja, Setúbal and Lisbon, and accused two men and one woman, it was announced today.
The seizure culminated an investigation started in 2021, to combat illegal gambling and tax fraud, “targeting the criminal offenses of exploiting games of chance, fraud and abuse of tax trust”, the GNR said in a statement.
According to the security force, the investigation made it possible to identify the locations used as illicit gambling establishments, as well as those that were used for storing and distributing the respective machines.
During searches carried out in establishments and residences in the districts of Faro, Beja, Lisbon and Setúbal, 495 machines, 1,109 posters associated with the machines and 874.50 euros were seized, specified the GNR.
The operation also resulted in the constitution of three defendants, two men and one woman, aged between 52 and 64, and two legal entities, one operating restaurants and the other distributing recreational products.
The police operation of the Faro Fiscal Action detachment was reinforced by military personnel from the Lisbon and Évora GNR Research and Fiscal Action detachments, with the support of the Tax and Customs Authority.
The case was sent to the Judicial Court of Olhão, in the district of Faro.
The Republican National Guard says that it continues to carry out daily inspection and criminal investigation actions to combat illegal gambling and tax fraud.
“The GNR will continue, not only to promote awareness-raising actions aimed at preventing these behaviors, but also to develop inspection actions, through a recurring presence in the places where it is observed”, concludes the republican national guard.
