South Africa’s national lottery operator/regulator is reeling after its offices were raided by law enforcement agencies probing allegations of rampant fraud involving lottery bigwigs.

On Tuesday, the Pretoria offices of South Africa’s National Lottery Commission (NLC) were raided by members of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the government’s top body for investigating serious financial malpractice in the administration of the state.

Local media reported that SIU agents – along with members of the Hawks serious crime investigation force – came bearing warrants from a Pretoria magistrate allowing them to seize documents, laptops and other NLC records. 

The agents also paid a visit to document storage company Metrofile, marching out with still more evidence, while sources claim the warrant also covers the home residences of some NLC officials and their relatives.