Macau police have arrested three people suspected of running an illegal money exchange business that handled nearly HK$49.5 million ($6.3 million) for gamblers, in violation of the city’s anti-illegal gambling law.
The Judiciary Police said on Thursday that the suspects — a 53-year-old local woman who owns a shop selling cigarettes and liquor in the city center, a 34-year-old male non-resident worker, and a 47-year-old female employee — were detained during coordinated operations in the central district and the NAPE area.
Officers seized approximately MOP269,280 ($33,500) in cash believed to be linked to the illicit activity, along with transaction records and other evidence.
Investigations revealed that the shop, which appeared to sell cigarettes and liquor, was used as a front to provide unauthorized money exchange services to casino patrons. Police surveillance showed two mainland men entering the store to exchange Hong Kong dollars before heading directly to nearby casinos. The employees allegedly used personal online payment platforms to collect funds and transfer them to designated accounts.
Since the enforcement of the Law on Combating Illegal Gambling Crimes in October 2024, the shop is believed to have conducted illegal money exchanges totaling HK$49.5 million ($6.3 million), earning unlawful profits of about HK$1.24 million ($160,000).
The three suspects have been charged with “operating an illegal money exchange for gambling purposes.” The case was referred to the Public Prosecutions Office on Thursday afternoon for further investigation.
