Law officers hit a big jackpot and seized hundreds of illegal gambling machines from storage units.
"I've heard of people losing up to $40,000 on these machines in Cumberland County," said Cumberland County Sheriff Earl "Moose" Butler.
The machines were stored take were near Raeford. However, Butler said most of them came out of Cumberland County.
"You are talking about big bucks, and it's not something that I think any county would be proud to have as a part of their county," said Butler.
In late March, Butler's officers cracked down on numerous businesses in and around Fayetteville. Dozens of gambling machines were confiscated.
Information from that investigation led officers to Hoke County where Sheriff Hubert Peterkin said the machines were stored for safe keeping.
"We found from our investigation there was a four year lease on the property," said Peterkin. "So, evidently they plan to store and keeping storing."
Peterkin said more than a dozen storage units, and outside pods were filled with the machines. Deputies from both counties worked hand in hand tagging then loading the machines into trailers and trucks.
Despite this haul, both sheriffs suspect more illegal machines are still in operation.
"I can tell you we are not stopping," said Butler. "If they go underground, we will go with them because we are tired of it."
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