The Secretariat of the Navy reported seizing 18 slot machines known as 'habichuelas' during an inter-institutional operation carried out in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit, after detecting they were operating without the corresponding permits. Through a press release, it was announced that the action was taken during land tours in various commercial establishments in the municipality. The operation was led by the Mexican Navy through the Naval Sector of Boca de Chila, in coordination with the Attorney General's Office (FGR). The Secretariat of the Navy detailed that the establishments where the machines were located did not have authorization from the Secretariat of the Interior for the operation of this type of games, so the points were closed and the equipment was seized. The seized material was made available to the competent authorities for the corresponding case file. Authorities indicated that this type of inter-institutional action seeks to reduce spaces that can be used for illicit activities. Among them are money laundering, drug use and sale, as well as recruitment by organized crime. Finally, the Navy stated that the operation is part of the coordination work between federal authorities to combat illegal activities in the entity and contribute to maintaining public order in Nayarit. This type of game is common in different areas of the state; in some establishments they are visible, while in other places, they use front businesses to hide the slot machines. Meanwhile, in Michoacán, the State Attorney General's Office reported that so far this year, it has seized 803 slot machines in Morelia, Uruapan, Apatzingán, Zamora, Tacámbaro, Maravatio, and other municipalities. The agency calculated that these spaces generate around 12 thousand pesos per month per machine and that in spaces managed as 'micro-casinos', activities possibly related to extortion, drug dealing, violence in different modalities, and other alleged crimes were detected.
