Two individuals from mainland China have been arrested for allegedly conducting unlawful currency exchanges inside casinos in the NAPE Area, according to details reported by Macao Daily.
The Judiciary Police said the two cases were detected during patrols on the same day, with authorities seizing a combined HK$129,000 in chips and cash suspected to be connected to illegal exchange activity. Both suspects have been charged with operating illegal currency exchange for gambling.
In the first case, officers patrolling a casino smoking lounge at around 11.40am noticed two men engaging in what appeared to be a cash-for-chips transaction. One of them, a young mainland man identified as a witness, later proceeded to gamble on the gaming floor. Police intercepted both men shortly after.
Investigators said the witness had exchanged RMB 27,150 (US$3,913) for HK$30,000 to use for gambling. Officers seized HK$48,000 in chips, HK$5,000 in cash, and a mobile phone from the suspect, a 32-year-old man surnamed Zeng who claimed to be unemployed.
Police also recovered HK$25,000 in remaining chips from the witness. Zeng reportedly admitted he arrived in Macau last June to work as a currency exchanger, earning HK$80 per HK$10,000 exchanged. He told police he had earned HK$2,400 through such activities.
The second case unfolded around noon when officers observed a man and woman completing what appeared to be another illegal exchange outside a casino entrance. The male witness later entered the casino to gamble, and both were intercepted.
Police said the witness had exchanged RMB 2,730 for HK$3,000. Officers seized HK$50,000 in cash and a mobile phone from the suspect, a 46-year-old woman surnamed Xia. The witness had HK$1,000 in remaining chips. Xia allegedly admitted she began working as a currency exchanger in Macau this January and had earned RMB 8,000 through the activity.
Both cases have been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office for further action.
Illegal currency exchange operations, often referred to locally as “money exchange gangs,” remain a persistent issue around Macau casinos
