Key Moments:
- Two women have been arrested on allegations of facilitating at least HK$70m in illegal currency exchanges for casino clients
- Police reported the operation yielded approximately HK$2m in unlawful profits since late 2024
- Officers confiscated HK$2.82m in cash and RMB 60,000 during an on-site intervention next to a NAPE casino
Policing Activity Leads to Discovery of Unlawful Exchange Network
Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) detained two local women, aged 58 and 42, for allegedly running an unauthorized currency exchange business catering primarily to casino visitors. Both suspects, sharing the surname Sam, were apprehended following a special press conference in which PJ spokesman Ho Wai Lok detailed the investigation.
The operation, which reportedly began in 2014, had been based in a jewelry shop located in Macau’s NAPE casino zone. The suspects identified themselves as businesswomen and sales staff, but authorities believe their primary activity involved facilitating underground currency exchanges for gamblers.
Details of the Illicit Transactions
According to investigators, the women are accused of delivering currency exchange services without the required licenses, charging a conversion rate of 0.99. These activities allegedly continued even after new restrictions on gaming-related transactions were enacted on 29 October 2024.
From 29 October 2023 forward, the suspects are believed to have participated in deals totaling approximately HK$70m, generating around HK$2m in earnings stemming from commissions and rate differences.
Routine Inspection Reveals Method of Operation
Authorities detected the underground exchange during an inspection near a casino in the NAPE district. The younger of the two was seen presenting a payment QR code to a patron. After the customer transferred 2,020 yuan electronically, the woman exchanged it for HK$2,000 in cash, reflecting a 0.99 rate. The customer subsequently used the currency to buy gaming chips, showing the jewelry shop to be a conduit for cash entering the gaming ecosystem.
Evidence and Enforcement Efforts
Police intercepted the suspects on-site, recovering HK$2.82m in cash, RMB 60,000, a ledger believed to document the illicit transactions, and a mobile phone suspected of being used to operate the business. Both women have now been handed over to the Public Prosecutions Office for suspected involvement in unauthorized currency exchange activities.
Authorities emphasized that this case is part of broader initiatives to strengthen controls on financial dealings within and around Macau’s casino industry.
| Item Seized | Amount/Value |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong Dollar Cash | HK$2,820,000 |
| Renminbi Cash | RMB 60,000 |
| Account Ledger | Recovered |
| Mobile Phone | Recovered |
- Author
Daniel Williams
