Westminster police arrested 11 people Wednesday morning while executing a search warrant at a home in the 6000 block of Apache Road. Investigators suspect the residence was being used for illegal gambling and drug activity. The search resulted in the discovery of suspected gambling equipment, narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
According to the Westminster Police Department, detectives detained people in several areas of the house and backyard. Officers found four suspected gambling machines on the property. Police said the 11 arrests involved various allegations, including illegal gambling, drug possession, parole violations and outstanding warrants.
Investigators described the suspected operation as a “slaphouse,” a term law enforcement uses for an illegal gambling location where customers play electronic machines. Such establishments can operate inside houses or commercial spaces. In this case, neighbors reportedly had raised concerns about activity at the Apache Road residence for an extended period.
Residents described vehicles and visitors coming and going at all hours. Westminster officials said information supplied by the community played an important role in the investigation. Detectives are continuing to examine evidence collected during the search, and additional charges could follow as that work proceeds.
Prosecutors had not announced formal charges. Any eventual case will depend on the conduct attributed to each individual, including whether a person was participating in gambling or helping run the operation. The drug allegations, parole violations and outstanding warrants could also carry consequences separate from any gambling case.
The arrests follow other enforcement actions against suspected illegal gambling operations across Orange County during the past two years. Investigations have involved homes as well as smoke shops, cafes and other storefront businesses. In June 2026, Anaheim police closed a gambling operation that ran around the clock, detained 18 people and seized machines and cash.
Santa Ana police have carried out multiple gambling investigations since 2025 involving residences, businesses, smoke shops and probation compliance operations. In Garden Grove, searches of illegal gambling locations have led to arrests and the seizure of money and gaming machines. Separately, federal prosecutors alleged in 2026 that organized criminal groups connected to the Mexican Mafia earned revenue from illegal gambling operations across Orange County.
Law enforcement agencies have linked illegal gambling locations to concerns including narcotics activity, robberies, assaults and neighborhood complaints. The Westminster investigation remains open. Anyone with information about the Apache Road case is encouraged to contact Westminster Police Detective B. Odell or Orange County Crime Stoppers.
