(Published September 17‚ 2003)

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The State Law Enforcement Division has seized 21 illegal video gambling machines across the state.

Undercover SLED agents, working with local authorities, searched 20 counties and 727 locations across the state on Wednesday. Twelve machines were seized in Greenville County, five in Richland County and one each in Sumter and Charleston counties.

Agents will continue to canvass the state for other illegal machines, said SLED Chief Robert Stewart.

Video gambling became illegal in July 2000 after the state Supreme Court closed down the industry.