Police from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau have jointly dismantled a cross-border illegal gambling syndicate, resulting in the arrest of 93 individuals.
According to local media reports, Macau Judiciary Police apprehended 50 individuals in Macau, including masterminds and key members of the syndicate, and seized over MOP8 million (approximately $1 million) in cash, Hong Kong Dollars, and Chinese Renminbi.
The syndicate, operating since 2016, is believed to have conducted transactions amounting to at least MOP1 billion ($125 million).
During their investigation, police uncovered the syndicate’s involvement in online gambling activities, utilizing overseas servers to host websites for betting on peripheral football and basketball games with attractive odds.
The syndicate operated with distinct roles, including bankers, general agents, and recruiters of gamblers. The operation culminated in simultaneous arrests across Macau, Cotai, and Coloane, seizing substantial amounts of cash, mobile phones, computers, and other evidence.
Police found that four syndicate members are currently incarcerated for a money laundering case, and an additional four are suspects in an illicit gambling case.
In a follow-up investigation into a 2022 money laundering case, police discovered evidence implicating these imprisoned members in illegal gambling activities, prompting a separate inquiry. Through analysis, scrutiny, and intelligence gathering, authorities confirmed the syndicate’s long-standing involvement in online gambling.
Mainland Chinese authorities also arrested 42 syndicate members, including 38 males and four females aged 28 to 48, seizing RMB80 million ($11 million) in cash and freezing over 90 bank accounts with RMB20 million ($2.8 million) involved.
In Hong Kong, police arrested a man in Tuen Mun who assisted the group in receiving over HK$8 million ($1 million) in wagers from June of last year to March of this year.
During the Euro 2024, investigations revealed the syndicate has received over MOP72 million ($9 million) per week through peripheral betting.
Police also discovered that four arrested men had established a physical illegal gambling den disguised as a coffee shop in the commercial area of Areia Preta, Macau. The den operated as a club, offering Texas Hold’em and mahjong gambling, with dealers arranging cards for Texas Hold’em players. To avoid detection, the den operated irregularly, opening only when a specific number of gamblers were present.
