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The presence of organized criminals in casinos is “a viable threat to public safety,” the B.C. government was warned in an April internal memo obtained by Postmedia.

The memo — sent to John Mazure, B.C.’s assistant deputy minister in charge of the gaming enforcement branch — sheds light on the level of awareness in the government of how money laundering in casinos could pose a danger for both B.C. residents and the provincial economy.

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The high-level warning and other internal documents about the growing scandal in B.C.’s casino sector were obtained in a freedom of information request by Postmedia.

“The gaming policy enforcement branch intelligence unit reports that organized crime presence in and around B.C. casinos presents a viable threat to public safety,” the April 2017 memo says.

The memo was written by Len Meilleur, the gaming enforcement branch’s director of compliance. It refers to RCMP and B.C. Lottery Commission investigations that led to allegations that “illegitimate lenders” associated with organized crime are lending cash earned through crime to VIP gamblers, with drop-offs in B.C. casino parking lots.