Macau’s Judiciary Police have dismantled a syndicate involved in illegal money exchange activities, arresting 13 individuals during the operation.
The group is accused of conducting over 800 illegal money exchange transactions since the activity was criminalized in the region on October 29th this year, with a total volume of over HK$31.2 million ($4 million).
The crackdown was part of a larger cross-border operation in collaboration with China’s Public Security Bureau. On November 26th, authorities in Macau and 23 provinces in mainland China—including Beijing, Hebei, Guangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong—launched a coordinated operation targeting illegal cross-border money exchange activities.
Mainland police arrested 216 individuals suspected of participating in illegal money exchange schemes, with transaction volumes exceeding RMB 3.5 billion ($483 million).
In Macau, 60 officers from the Judiciary Police were deployed to multiple locations, including hotels in the Macau Peninsula and Taipa, as well as two residential units. The operation led to the apprehension of 13 suspects, including 12 mainland residents and one Macau resident, aged between 32 and 43.
Among those arrested, one individual had overstayed their visa, while another had entered Macau illegally to engage in money exchange activities.
Authorities confiscated over HK$2.7 million ($372,300) in cash, casino chips worth HK$540,000 ($74,462), and 18 mobile phones used to facilitate transactions. All suspects claimed to be unemployed.
Macau’s new Law on Illegal Gambling Activities imposes stricter measures on unauthorized gambling operations, with a particular focus on illegal currency exchange for gambling purposes. Offenders now face penalties of up to five years in prison.
