Customs and Police officers yesterday swooped on six gambling haunts in a sting operation over the suspected importation of illegal spare parts for gaming machines.

At noon yesterday, about 70 officers from the two agencies visited a variety of different premises and began the arduous task of pawing through the machines in a bid to discover whether they had been fitted with new parts that were allowed into the Island on the understanding that they were for video machines.

Acting Collector of Customs Larry Conn said: “Since 2001, Her Majesty's Customs has identified shipments of parts being imported that could - and I emphasise could - possibly be incorporated into gaming machines that are prohibited under the Prohibition of Gaming Machines Act of 2001.

“Should it be verified that the shipments in question have been diverted to the use in machines that fall under the Gaming Act cited, there could possibly be offences, related to their entry, under the Revenue Act. We will continue to work with Bermuda Police in their ongoing investigation.”

The premises targeted yesterday are believed to be Swinging Doors in Court Street, The Plush in Parliament Street, Seamont in Smith's, Lucky Strike in The Emporium Building, a residence in Elliott Street, and a property in Bakery Lane.

The Royal Gazette understands that the suspicious shipments of parts, along with the mushrooming of gaming machines in and around the City of Hamilton, led Police and Customs to believe machines were being repaired and upgraded illegally.

Assistant Police Commissioner Carlton Adams said those people involved in the establishments were co-operating.

He told The Royal Gazette: “It would appear that there has been a flagrant disregard for the laws as they stand.

“As we speak, these searches and examinations of these premises are underway. Initial indications are that there have been offences committed and there is evidence to that effect.

“At the moment, we are trying to gather evidence and the question of charges will depend on evidence, as it's discovered.”

The issue concerning Customs and Police is not the fact that gambling was allowed in these places, but simply whether new spare parts have been installed into the machines.

Under the Gaming Act of last year, those premises that own gambling machines are allowed to continue to operate them, but not allowed to repair or replace them.

The principle behind the law was that, as more and more machines were consigned to the scrap heap due to technical failure, gambling on the Island would gradually die out.

Mr. Conn said all of the parts imported during the last year had a variety of uses, but had been declared to Customs and alleged for legal use, so were allowed into the Island.

However, he said the issue was whether those parts were now being used for their alleged use, or whether they were being used for gambling machines, instead.

Technical officers are likely to be used to identify whether the parts have been used for the gambling machines, which could prove to be a lengthy process.

As of last night, no one had been arrested, but charges relating to the Revenue Act could follow.