Sharjah gambling den raided in police sting

Dubai: Undercover police recently busted an open-air gambling den under Sharjah’s National Paints flyover.

Plainclothes officers were at the scene but it was not immediately clear if arrests were made as gamblers fled, abandoning an ironing board used as a stand for gambling on the go.

Around a half dozen CID (Criminal Investigations Department) officials — some in Pakistani traditional clothes, others in long-shorts and T-shirts — raided the scene around 6pm on Wednesday.

They were then seen questioning people in the immediate vicinity, apparently gathering leads. Onlookers took in the commotion and chatted animatedly about the development. The flyover, popularly named after the nearby National Paints building, has long been a haunt for gamblers, residents said.

Shortly before the raid, Gulf News walked past the gamblers — mostly Pakistanis, Indians and Bangladeshis — dressed to blend in. The reporting team put on a green reflector jacket, borrowed from workers passing by, and pretended to take pictures of the construction works around the flyover.

The photos of gamblers were taken from the top of the flyover, looking straight down onto the scene. They could be seen soliciting people passing by to play games of chance. Some stopped to have a look; many turned a blind eye; but a few decided to take a chance with their cash.

Quick buck

Also, Dh100 notes changed hands as the card dealer handled the proceedings. The activity also attracted illegal street vendors — of fish, vegetables, mobile phone “balance” sellers — looking to make a quick buck as well.

Workers in the area said the banned practice was a “nuisance and eyesore as we were solicited to gamble as we walked past almost daily.”

“It’s tempting for many new arrivals, especially the young low-income workers, looking to make fast money. They don’t realise they end up being scammed by the gamblers and losing money, with nothing to send home at the end of the month,” said a young Indian worker who declined to be identified.

“These gamblers have people who pretend to be players who ‘win’ the bet. Seeing this, many are duped into parting with their money. There have been fights over this.”

Sharjah Police CID director Colonel Jihad Sahoo told Gulf News that officials are patrolling the streets daily to crack down on any gambling operations. He said the practice is usually controlled by infiltrators, absconders or illegal residents seeking to dupe people. Col Sahoo added that gambling often leads to violence.

Residents’ cooperation

“Sharjah Police has intensified efforts to end violations of the country’s residency laws. That can only be achieved with the full cooperation of law-abiding residents, through the media and the wider community,” Col Sahoo said.

He added that a number of raids have been carried out recently to curb the practice.

Col Sahoo urged residents to cooperate with Sharjah Police and inform them about such illegal practices, which “annoy the residents in public areas and streets.”

He advised them to report offences “that threaten the security of society” on 999 or on the toll-free ‘Najeed’ hotline — 800151.