Police unearth illegal gambling in Garapan

Prostitution may be taking a step backward to another apparently pervasive problem in the Western Garapan district.

Police Tuesday night zoomed in on an illegal gambling activity in the heart of Saipan’s tourist commercial zone, reportedly alerting other illegal gambling operators within the vicinity to temporarily shut their businesses down.

The surprise raid conducted by special agents of the Department of Public Safety yielded two arrests.

Police officials said news of the sudden visit from authorities apparently spread like wildfire in the illegal gambling business community, through the magic of wireless communication.

The pair of women arrestees, reportedly citizens of the People’s Republic of China, were red-handedly caught inside an upper level floor of a building behind GIG disco.

According to Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr., illegal gambling activities in Western Garapan closely tie up with the district’s prostitution problem.

A special agent said women in prostitution have been known to join the commercial sex trade to cover up their losses in the addictive games of chance.

The illegal establishments clandestinely operate inside closed chambers where entry is tightly restricted to persons with the right identification and referrals.

The illegitimate operation reportedly hosts casino-type of games, and other games dealing with cards, chips and money.

“These businesses are illegal because they do not hold licenses and revenues they generate through their business is not diverted to the general fund,” said the police commissioner.

Only the island of Tinian has the capacity to operate casinos as regulated by the Tinian Casino Gaming Commission.

Authorities are continually on the lookout for leads in an effort to crack down on more of such illegal activities that they believe to be prolific in the Western Garapan area.

Last month, one out of possibly five other individuals suspected to be the brains behind an illegal gambling operation was indicted by the federal grand jury of a one-count charge for the said offense.

Defendant Qian Wu, otherwise known as “Queenie,” is reportedly a prominent businesswoman in her circle and has resided in the CNMI for many years.

She has been charged before the US District Court on one count of conducting an illegal gambling business, after authorities discovered her and other co-conspirators allegedly operating games of “baccarat” and “big and small” that are against local and federal laws.

Last year, two individuals were also indicted with charges in connection with the illegitimate business.

One of the defendants who pled not guilty to the charges admitted to a federal agent that he was employed by the other defendant in an illegal gambling business establishment located in the Poon’s Restaurant Building and the VIP Building.

The illegal business operation reportedly involves many shareholders.