Employees on a casino cruise ship from the Indian state of Goa have assaulted anti-money laundering investigators after mistaking them for con men.

Directorate of Enforcement officials wanted to speak with workers and analyze financial transactions relating to Casino Pride. Workers physically blocked them from doing any searches, and an argument broke out, with the officials having to contact the state police for help.

the casino workers destroyed the evidence they had collected

Investigators claim that the casino workers destroyed the evidence they had collected up to that point. Police eventually arrived on the scene and helped the officials complete their search.

Goa’s Mandovi River is home to six cruise ship casinos and 11 onshore facilities that are big employers in the region. They are a target for various tax authorities for allegedly not paying their full taxes, with the authorities carrying out several raids on other casinos in October. Legal action is also ongoing regarding hefty tax bills.