Police In Cyprus Raid Internet Gambling Premises

Police in Cyprus raided two different sites on Wednesday night that were suspected of operating an internet gambling ring.

Few details have been released, although it is known that seven computers were seized at the first site, and eight more were taken at the second spot. The owners of each spot were taken into custody on internet gambling charges.

Over the past year authorities in Cyprus have begun taking a heavy handed stance when it comes to dealing with online gambling operations. Last month police raided three betting shops and took money and computers among other evidence.

Speaking earlier in the year, Justice Minister Loucas Louca commented on the internet gambling operations, saying the government would "...enforce the law in order to deal with this problem.”

“We hope that parliament finally passes the relevant bill so as to offer the police further ammunition to radically deal with this phenomenon, which has turned into a social problem."

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos commented on internet gambling raids earlier this year, saying: "Police operations of this kind have temporary effects only, since the owners of the premises return to their illegal activities by simply replacing equipment each time it is seized.”