Macau's Judiciary Police recently dismantled an illegal currency exchange gang linked to gambling activities at a comprehensive resort in Cotai. During the operation, police arrested two female staff members in a watch and jewelry store, and preliminary investigations showed that the illegal exchange involved amounts up to about 60 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 7.7 million US dollars).
Operation Deployment and On-site Arrest
Based on tips, the police had been monitoring this shop located inside the casino since December 29 last year. On the day of the operation, law enforcement officers witnessed a mainland gambler scanning a QR code provided by the staff, then handing over 5000 Hong Kong dollars in cash, and immediately using the money to buy gambling chips for betting. This scene became direct evidence for the police to intervene and intercept the involved personnel on the spot.
Shop Operation Mode and Illegal Profits
The investigation found that this illegal exchange den has been operating since 2019 and continued to commit crimes against the wind even after Macau criminalized gambling-related illegal exchange activities in 2024. The police estimated that the total amount of illegal transactions handled was about 60 million Hong Kong dollars, and they earned about 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately 128,000 US dollars) in illegal profits. During the search of the shop, the police seized about 500,000 Hong Kong dollars suspected of being crime proceeds and a mobile phone used for operations.
Suspects' Confessions and Fund Flows
The two arrested employees, from Macau and the mainland respectively, admitted to the police that they were instructed by the shop manager to carry out the illegal currency exchange activities. It was revealed that they could also receive 2000 to 5000 Hong Kong dollars in "overtime pay" as additional compensation each month. Currently, the two suspects have been transferred to the prosecutor's office for involvement in operating illegal exchanges for gambling purposes.
Case Progress and Legal Pursuit
The Macau Judiciary Police stated that the investigation is still ongoing to track down the shop manager and other potentially involved individuals. This case highlights the regulatory challenges of financial crimes potentially being facilitated by businesses around casinos. It is crucial for gambling industry personnel and surrounding commercial institutions to ensure compliance and stay away from money laundering and illegal financial activities, with relevant risk control information available on the PASA official website. This case also reflects the authorities' continued determination to combat cross-border gambling financial chains to maintain local financial order stability.
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