Underground currency exchange operation uncovered in Macau casino
Mainland woman detained as police seize over HK$240,000 (US$30,700) in suspected illegal activity.
Key points:
– Judiciary Police intercepted three individuals involved in unauthorised money exchange
– Over HK$180,000 and RMB 60,000 (US$8,250) were seized
– Case handed over to the Public Prosecutions Office under anti-gambling and exchange laws
A mainland Chinese woman has been detained in connection with illegal money exchange activity uncovered during a routine inspection at a Cotai casino, according to a report by Macao Daily. The woman, surnamed Guo, is in her 50s and reportedly unemployed.
The incident took place on the morning of 21 July when officers from the Judiciary Police observed Guo interacting with two male gamblers in a hotel shopping area.
Surveillance showed Guo displaying a QR code on her phone to one of the men, who then scanned it with his own device. Guo subsequently handed them HK$30,000 before walking away. The two men were later spotted entering the casino.
All three individuals were apprehended around 12:30pm. Guo refused to cooperate during questioning.
One of the gamblers admitted to exchanging RMB 28,200 for HK$30,000 through Guo’s arrangement. Police recovered HK$25,900 from the pair, believed to be leftover gambling funds.
Good to know: Mainland “money changers” frequently target gamblers seeking quick currency exchange without going through licensed channels, often to bypass capital controls
Further searches uncovered HK$160,000 and RMB 60,000 in Guo’s possession, along with a mobile phone suspected to be linked to the operation.
Authorities suspect Guo has been conducting unauthorised exchanges since early July and had profited around RMB 750 from the transaction.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office under laws related to illegal gambling and unauthorised financial activity. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether others are involved in the operation.
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