26 Arrested In SWAT Raid On Westminster Illegal Gambling Ring

WESTMINSTER (CBSLA) – More than two dozen people were arrested in a SWAT raid overnight Monday at two separate homes in Westminster as part of an investigation into illegal gambling.

The multi-agency West Orange County SWAT raid took place just after midnight at a home in the 10000 block of Treebark Circle, and at a second home about one mile away on Premier Avenue.

SWAT officers in full gear raided the homes and arrested 26 people as part of an illegal gambling investigation. No one was hurt during the raid.

Booking allegations included running an illegal gambling operation, narcotics possession and sales and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and some suspects were wanted on warrants, according to Westminster police Sgt.
Phuong Pham.

"It's activity in and out of the homes, a lot of the times it's the neighbors that call in and report the activity that leads us to the investigation and starts the investigation for us," Westminster Police Commander Cord Vandergrift said.

Vandergrift said investigators had been monitoring the homes for the past two months. It's unclear if any evidence or money was recovered.