SANTIAGO – In a decisive move against unauthorized gambling operations, the Santiago Prosecutor’s Office has executed the systematic destruction of 64 slot machines confiscated during a series of coordinated law enforcement operations. The initiative, spearheaded by the Office’s Special Investigations Department, targeted establishments illegally operating gambling devices across the city.
Prosecutor Merary Guzmán, who leads the department, detailed that the seized equipment—which included gaming machines, associated cards, and software—was recovered from various unauthorized venues. These included corner stores, cafés, billiard halls, and lottery outlets, all operating in violation of Dominican Republic’s Law 29-06. This legislation strictly permits gambling activities solely within licensed and regulated premises.
The operations were conducted in collaboration with the Cibao Central Regional Intelligence Sub-Directorate (Dintel), represented by Police Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Félix García Santos, and the Preventive Police. Prosecutor Guzmán emphasized that the presence of such unregulated slot machines in community spaces poses significant social risks, particularly by facilitating underage access to gambling. This exposure, she warned, can precipitate gambling addiction among youth and potentially fuel related criminal behavior to support such habits.
Notably, the crackdown has garnered substantial support from local residents, reflecting increasing public consciousness about the detrimental effects of illicit gambling on neighborhood safety and family welfare. Reaffirming the commitment of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Guzmán pledged to continue these enforcement actions with transparency and responsibility, focusing on crime prevention, community well-being, and the protection of minors.