By K. NANCOO-RUSSELL

Freeport News Reporter

krystal@nasguard.com

Nine slot machines confiscated from a local liquor store during a police raid were destroyed yesterday morning in compliance with court orders.

The machines were crushed by a compactor at the Kent Motors site on Queens High-way.

Inspector Wendell Clarke, the officer in charge of the prosecution unit, was on-hand for the process, and explained that the machines were seized back in March during a raid of Manny's Liquor Store in the Exp-lorer's Plaza downtown.

Businessman Manuel Fer-reira was arrested on March 27 and charged with four others with possession of slot machines; permitting the premises to be used for a lottery; permitting the premises to promote, organise or conduct a lottery.

However, the prosecution later dropped the charges and instead brought just a charge of possession of slot mac-hines against Ferreira.

In July of this year, Ferreira was represented by Attorney Harvey Tynes when the case was heard before Magistrate Andrew Forbes.

The court ruled in favour of the prosecution and ordered that the machines be destroy-ed.

On completion of the case, Ferreira was discharged.

Yesterday, Clarke issued a reminder to members of the public that gambling is illegal and warned anyone operating such activities to desist.

"Wherever they are we will come and we will confiscate whatever is there," Clarke said. "We will take them to court. They will be prosecuted and I hope that by the end of the day that the court rules in the favour of the prosecution and likewise will be done with those things."

Clarke noted that there are still some cases pending in connection with the Operation Tsunami raids, in which some 70 persons were arrested.

Police had revealed that while the businesses targeted during the sting had legitimate business licences for certain services, they were also running illegal operations from their establishments and the raids were an effort to continue its mandate to remain resolved in ridding the community of all illegal activities.

The other case which involved slot machines is expected to be heard in court in November.

"If the prosecution makes out its case in that case and the court deems those machines to be slots, then at the end of the day we will ask that they be confiscated and they be destroyed," Clarke said.

"If they are not deemed to be slots the prosecution can appeal... and most likely that's what may happen... If they are not deemed to be slots they will be returned."