An alleged ringleader of a casino security extortion group has been remanded in custody in Macau after his arrest in mainland China, bringing the number of suspects held pending trial in the case to five.
The man had been hiding in the mainland before police detained him through cross-border cooperation and transferred him to Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ), the Public Prosecutions Office said in a statement released on September 5th.
The case concerns a suspected criminal group involving security personnel at an unnamed Cotai integrated resort. Prosecutors said members allegedly collected protection payments and fees to conceal or resolve offenses committed inside the casino.
Following judicial questioning, the court ordered the suspect’s detention, citing the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the risk that he would flee Macau if released. Suspected offenses include organized crime, coercion, extortion, harboring offenders and accepting bribes in the private sector.
As AGB reported in July, police initially disclosed the detention of 14 suspects, including nine casino security employees and five alleged intermediaries. Investigators said the scheme had collected at least HK$1.4 million ($178,000) from at least 30 people between March 2025 and July 2026.
According to the earlier police account, security staff allegedly increased checks on targeted individuals and threatened to remove them from the casino. Intermediaries then collected payments in exchange for keeping suspected theft, fraud and other violations from being reported to police.
Prosecutors said the remaining suspects were subject to other court-imposed measures while the investigation continued. The office also urged integrated resorts and their security personnel to fulfill their management responsibilities, maintain order and strengthen risk prevention.
