Albanian police said today they have arrested 115 persons in several counties of the country suspected of organized illegal gambling.

In pompous press conference, Director General of State Police Ardi Veliu said the investigation had started since July 2019 over persons that were suspected as involved in gambling and sports betting.

Veliu said 84 persons have been arrested in Tirana for running illegal betting shops. Albania banned ports betting and other forms of gambling from the start of 2019, after the parliament passed in 2018 the legislation that forced the closure of betting shops and slot machine parlors.

However, Syri TV reporters in the districts have reported that during the operation police halted several persons that were only playing domino.