93 suspects nabbed incl customs officer
A joint operation by the Macau, Hong Kong and mainland law enforcement agencies has cracked down on a cross-border illegal gambling gang that had operated since 2016, with an estimated cash involvement of about one billion patacas, Judiciary Police (PJ) Deputy Director Sou Sio Keong said during a special conference yesterday, adding that 93 individuals were apprehended, including a local customs officer.
Among the 50 local individuals arrested in Macau, two men were identified as the gang’s masterminds, with nine men as its key members. Sou noted that the investigation began with a follow-up investigation into a money laundering case in 2022, which revealed the suspects’ involvement in illegal gambling activities. The police later uncovered the gang’s use of overseas servers to set up websites, acceptance of side bets on football and basketball matches at higher odds compared to legal websites, recruitment of clients through agents, and round-the-clock online customer services.
A coordinated operation was carried out on Saturday by Macau, Hong Kong, and the mainland police. The Judiciary Police arrested 50 suspects in residential units in the peninsula, Cotai and Coloane. Sou underlined that the operation resulted in the seizure of over eight million patacas in cash, as well as a large quantity of evidence, including more than 100 mobile phones and 26 computers.
Sou added that four of the suspects also ran an illegal gambling den in the northern district. The gambling den was disguised as a coffee shop and operated as a club through referrals, providing various gambling services.
Meanwhile, 42 individuals from the mainland were arrested in Guangdong, where they were found to have handled illegal bets worth approximately 80 million yuan. As part of the operation, over 90 bank accounts linked to the mainland suspects were frozen, involving 20 million yuan. A Hong Kong man who provided his bank account for money laundering was arrested by the Hong Kong authorities; Ho added.
The 50 suspects were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP), facing a range of charges including money laundering, organised crime and illegal gambling.
In response to the incident, the Macau Customs Service (SA) said in a statement yesterday that an immediate internal disciplinary investigation has been launched during which the customs officer allegedly involved in the gang would be suspended from duty.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the 50 hooded local suspects to several police vehicles outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photos: William Chan
Evidence such as banknotes, mobile phones and computers is displayed at the Judiciary Police (PJ) press conference room yesterday.
