Macau police have arrested three local men accused of running a mobile money-exchange service that allegedly facilitated illegal currency exchanges for gamblers using a private vehicle near casino properties.
The arrests come amid tighter enforcement under Macau’s new Law on Illegal Gambling Activities, in force since October 2024, which criminalizes unauthorized money exchange for gambling purposes and carries penalties of up to five years in prison.
The Judiciary Police said the suspects—aged 44, 54, and 27—were detained earlier this week in the northern district and near a casino zone after officers received reports earlier this year of a vehicle repeatedly entering Cotai casino parking areas. Investigators suspected that the occupants were conducting unlawful currency-exchange activities and launched surveillance operations.
According to police, the 44-year-old provided the car and funding for the operation. The other two men, aged 54 and 27, allegedly approached gamblers in casino surroundings and offered illegal currency-exchange services. The group is accused of transporting gamblers to quieter locations near parking lots, where transactions were carried out using mobile phones. After receiving electronic payments, the men reportedly handed over cash or gaming chips for gambling.
Police said transaction records indicate the trio conducted approximately RMB11 million ($1.5 million) in illegal exchanges since January, generating an estimated HK$330,000 ($42,000) in illicit profit. All three suspects refused to cooperate during questioning.
The vehicle used in the operation, along with several mobile phones believed to be linked to the illegal exchanges, were seized. The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office, with the men facing charges related to unauthorized currency exchange for gambling purposes.
