At the time when the individuals obtained a considerable amount, between 5,000 and 9,000 euros, they were collecting the prizes at the local cashier from 1,000 to 1,000 so as not to raise suspicions
The Civil Guard dismantled a group of six individuals dedicated to the manipulation of betting machines in gambling halls through short circuits with which they could recover the money previously bet if they did not obtain results favorable to their interests, according to sources from the Armed Institute in a statement. . The Civil Guard carried out the ‘Amazi-ruleteo’ operation in Murcia and Alicante. The actions of this operation began last December, when the Benemérita began an investigation aimed at clarifying several robberies committed in public establishments with activity related to gambling by manipulating recreational devices.
The first steps of the operation made it possible to verify that a group of young people accessed the gambling halls, initially in Torre Pacheco, sometimes posing as other people to avoid being related to criminal activity. Once inside, they started the game and, when the result was not favourable, they caused short circuits that allowed them to obtain a return of the money wagered, which gave them a 100% chance of obtaining the prize. When the play was awarded, they let the game continue according to their interest.
Once they obtained a considerable amount of money, between 5,000 and 9,000 euros, they would collect the prizes at the cashier of the game room from 1,000 euros to 1,000 euros so as not to raise suspicions. The development of the operation made it possible to verify that behind the crimes investigated was a group of young people, with an extensive criminal history, based in Torre Pacheco and with considerable geographical mobility when carrying out the criminal activity, since the first robberies were they committed in various gaming venues in the Pacheco municipality, but later the commission of robberies was detected in gaming halls in La Unión and Torrevieja.
Alerted by the Benemérita, the companies that managed the roulette-type machines installed software to prevent theft from continuing. Even so, and due to the specialization acquired, the criminal group found another way to continue with this type of crime. To do this, using a screwdriver, they pry under the gaming screens and pull out other wires to continue short-circuiting the gaming stations.
Once all the necessary evidence has been obtained, the members of the criminal group have been identified and their places of residence have been located, during the last few days the Civil Guard has carried out the exploitation phase of the operation made up of more than fifty troops.
With prior judicial authorization, the Civil Guard entered and searched four homes in Roldán and Lo Ferro, in the municipality of Torre Pacheco, where the six members of the criminal group were arrested and effects related to the criminal activity now clarified were seized. After the operation, which is part of the ‘Secure Trade Plan’, the Meritorious investigators have clarified, so far, a dozen crimes.
Effects seized
In the exploitation phase of the operation, carried out in the municipality of Pacheco, the civil guards seized more than 100 grams of marijuana buds ready for imminent distribution, cash, mobile phones, high-end watches, technological devices and related documentation. with the criminal activity now clarified.
The six young members of the criminal group are attributed the alleged authorship of the crimes of belonging to a criminal group, robbery with force, usurpation of marital status, theft and drug trafficking. The exhaustive analysis of the information obtained during the investigation has made it possible to clarify, so far, a dozen crimes, in which it is estimated that cash was stolen in excess of 70,000 euros.
The Civil Guard continues with the open operation to determine if there are more people linked to the clarified criminal acts, as well as if, due to the high geographical mobility, the criminal group has committed more crimes that are still unsolved. The detainees, the drug seized, the effects seized and the proceedings carried out were made available to the Investigating Court of San Javier (Murcia)