Thirty three people were detained and nearly 60 gambling machines were seized after sheriff’s deputies raided two illegal gambling operations Thursday, according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar.
Deputies were called to the two locations around 5 p.m. Thursday -- one in the 2500 block of West Woodlawn Avenue and one in the 100 block of Esma. Both locations are believed to be linked.
Eighteen people, both employees and customers at the Woodlawn location, were detained after deputies found roughly 40 eight-liner gambling machines.
Salazar said at least one vehicle was found to be stolen, but deputies are still working to determine if there are others.
“There are organized crime ties to this location as well as the other,” Salazar said.
At the location on Esma, about 15 people were detained and 18 eight-liner gambling machines were found, the sheriff said.
It’s unknown if there are any stolen vehicles or firearms at the second site, the BCSO said.
Customers visiting the gambling sites will likely be issued a citation, but employees and operators will be charged with keeping a gambling place and promotion of gambling, according to Salazar.
“It is quite possible that since the two locations are linked, there will be charges at a later date of engaging in organized criminal activity,” Salazar said.