Macau police apprehended another suspect involved in illicit money exchanges on Thursday, one day after the first arrest occurred under Macau’s new illegal gambling law.
According to the Judiciary Police, authorities intercepted a mainland Chinese man engaged in money exchange for gambling purposes in Cotai at 9:30am on Thursday, resulting in his arrest. This marks the second case of illicit money exchange addressed by Macau police, leading to the arrest of three suspects within the first three days since the new law took effect.
The latest suspect, a 40-year-old man, was found exchanging RMB19,845 ($2,787) for HK$21,000 ($2,703) in cash chips when he was intercepted by police. He reported being unemployed and had entered Macau on October 23rd.
He has been charged with operating an illegal money exchange for gambling, and the case has been forwarded to the prosecution for further investigation.
During the operation, police seized a total of HK$46,900 ($6,043) in gaming chips, HK$500 ($65) in cash, and a mobile phone as evidence.
Authorities reiterated that the Law on Illegal Gambling Activities, which took effect on October 29th, prohibits operating a currency exchange business for gambling without proper authorization. Offenders could face up to five years in prison, with all money and valuables involved in the crime subject to confiscation and declared property of the Macau SAR government by the court.
