Newark police Sunday raided a pizzeria allegedly being used as a gambling parlor, the department said in a statement.



Members of the special investigation unit executed a search warrant shortly before noon at Florina Pizzeria and Restaurant, 734-736 Mt. Prospect Ave., and found gambling paraphernalia as well as $30,000 in cash. Police had begun investigating the business after receiving information about gambling there.



Police arrested Flor A. Martinez-Azcona, 41, of Union; Yenisse Rodriguez, 19, of Bloomfield; Lucianny Duran Rosario, 19, of Newark; and a 17-year-old Newark resident. All face charges of promoting illegal gambling, possession of gambling records and possession of gambling devices. Martinez-Azcona was also charged with maintaining a gambling resort.



"This is another example of the community partnering with the police department by providing information of illegal activity that led investigators to obtain a search warrant. I commend the members of the Special Investigation Unit for apprehending the suspects that were using a restaurant to mask a gambling operation," said Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio.



Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues, Newark police also said.