Riverside Smoke Shop raided over suspected gambling and drug offenses – Press Enterprise

Authorities said on Saturday that police searched a riverside smokehouse in the city center where illegal gambling and drug deals were suspected to have taken place.

The search warrant at the DTOWN Smoke Shop in the 3400 block of University Avenue was the result of “numerous complaints” about possible illegal activity that was negatively impacting neighboring businesses, according to a news release from the Riverside Police Department.

Detectives and vice squad officers assigned to the Downtown Entertainment District team served the warrant Thursday and allegedly found evidence of illegal gambling and drug activity, police said.

A store employee was allegedly found in possession of suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm, arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance for sale and weapons violations, police said.

Officials from the California Department of Taxes and Fees also went to the business and opened an investigation into the sale and use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis products, police said.

Anyone with information was asked to contact detectives at RPDViceRiversideCA.gov