Waco police conducted a search warrant at the Rio Grande, Resale Grocery, Tobacco & Gift located at 901 N. 25th St.
Around 3:30 p.m., Waco PD SWAT team served a warrant at the smoke shop for what officials said was a cover for an illegal 8-liner gambling operation.
Officials said two people were taken into custody and both had outstanding warrants.
Waco smoke shop raid
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Shanabilh Yazun, 37, was arrested for two counts of Keeping a Gambling Place and Abdelfattah Al-Qab, 25, was arrested for a warrant out of Harris County.
Police said charges are pending on this bust.
Waco Police Sergeant Patrick Swanton said the following:
“The reason we did this is because these places breed crime, everything from burglaries to illegal drug dealing to robberies and assaults. It is definitely a quality of life issue for the citizens that abide by the law because of the riff raff that these places bring into their businesses. We are going to start enforcing the penal code on illegal gambling operations and want this to serve as fair warning that if you operate an illegal gambling operation you can expect a visit from us.”
Evidence recovered included mother-boards for 13 8-liner gaming machines, surveillance equipment, gambling ledgers, and $2,566.