Macau police have arrested six mainland Chinese men in connection with a violent robbery at a Cotai hotel, where two individuals involved in illicit currency exchange were targeted.
The victims, a mainland couple, were assaulted and robbed of more than HK$160,000 ($20,430) in cash and RMB30,000 ($3,830) worth of gold jewelry.
The incident occurred on the evening of May 21st when one suspect lured the victims to a hotel room under the pretense of currency exchange and gambling discussions. Five other accomplices were waiting inside. Upon entry, the victims were punched, kicked, and threatened with a dinner knife before being robbed.
Macau Judiciary Police (PJ) launched an investigation after receiving a referral from the Public Security Police Force. They identified three suspects who had immediately fled to mainland China. The PJ activated its cross-border liaison mechanism, leading to the prompt arrest of these three individuals by mainland public security authorities. The remaining three suspects were intercepted in the hotel lobby by security and handed over to police.
Initial investigations reveal that the male victim owed HK$800,000 ($102,150) to one of the arrested suspects from a previous business venture. The debt, which had grown to HK$900,000 ($114,910), stemmed from the victim’s losses in illegal currency exchange in Macau. The principal suspect, frustrated by the lack of repayment, conspired with the others to ambush and rob the couple.
The two victims will be investigated separately for their involvement in illicit currency exchange. Macau authorities consider money exchange businesses to be among the main drivers of many gaming-related crimes. In October last year, money exchange for gaming purposes was criminalized, with violators facing up to five years in jail.