NEW YORK (AP) – Police investigating a lucrative bookmaking operation came across a related drug smuggling ring and busted both, arresting 17 and seizing $1 million, authorities said Wednesday.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
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Thirteen men and a woman were arrested on gambling charges, while three men were arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess marijuana, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.<o></o>
“Surveillance ... established that the gambling ring took in an average of $165,000 a week in bets,” Spota said.<o></o>
The bookmaking operation focused on professional and collegiate sports and involved electronic transfers to Costa Rica, generating $8.6 million a year, he said.<o></o>
While investigators were conducting surveillance on the gambling probe they discovered two of the bookmakers were also involved in transporting marijuana from California to Long Island, authorities said. Four men were trying to buy 100 pounds of pot for $300,000 in California when the plot was thwarted, investigators said.<o></o>
Police started making arrests last month. All have been released and are scheduled to be arraigned in March.<o></o>
One more man, an attorney, has eluded arrest on a conspiracy charge and was being sought, prosecutors said. More arrests are expected.<o></o>
fficeffice" /><o></o>Thirteen men and a woman were arrested on gambling charges, while three men were arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess marijuana, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.<o
></o>“Surveillance ... established that the gambling ring took in an average of $165,000 a week in bets,” Spota said.<o
></o>The bookmaking operation focused on professional and collegiate sports and involved electronic transfers to Costa Rica, generating $8.6 million a year, he said.<o
></o>While investigators were conducting surveillance on the gambling probe they discovered two of the bookmakers were also involved in transporting marijuana from California to Long Island, authorities said. Four men were trying to buy 100 pounds of pot for $300,000 in California when the plot was thwarted, investigators said.<o
></o>Police started making arrests last month. All have been released and are scheduled to be arraigned in March.<o
></o>One more man, an attorney, has eluded arrest on a conspiracy charge and was being sought, prosecutors said. More arrests are expected.<o
></o>
