Police nab London casino muggers
7th February, 2008
A gang believed to have targeted gamblers leaving London casinos has been arrested in raids across the capital.
Early morning raids were carried out in Notting Hill, Harlesden and Palmers Green, leading to the arrests of five men on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and money laundering.
A fifth man was arrested in the borough of Ealing on suspicion of possessing a prohibited weapon.
Police said that the gang were under investigation for three muggings reported to have taken place outside separate casino gambling institutions in London, all targeting people leaving with winnings.
The Met's Territorial Policing Crime Squad spearheaded the operation - dubbed Operation Portias - after the victims reported that they had been mugged for their slot machine takings last autumn.
The detained men are believed to be aged between 29 and 37. They are all being questioned at a west London police station.
