The Judiciary Police (PJ) handed over 42 mainlanders involved in illegal currency exchange activities in Macau to the Zhuhai police yesterday evening.
PJ Deputy Director Sou Sio Keong briefed reporters about the cases after the transfer of the illegal currency exchange dealers in the area between Zhuhai’s Gongbei and Macau’s Barrier Gate border checkpoints.
Sou noted that the 42 unlicensed dealers comprised 29 males and 13 females aged between 27 and 63. Two of the dealers were non-resident workers (NRW) suspected of illegally engaging in currency exchange activities in Macau using their employment as a cover, while another dealer overstayed in Macau in an illegal inn for nine months. Notified by the Judiciary Police about the case, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has meanwhile sealed the clandestine inn.
According to Sou, the Ministry of Public Security has recently announced a crackdown on money exchange syndicates. After sorting and analysing the data, Sou noted, gangs involved in illegal currency activities in the mainland and Macau were identified and the Judiciary Police were informed about their activities here.
Sou noted that the Judiciary Police dispatched 100 officers at 7 a.m. yesterday to various hotels and residential units in different areas in Macau, especially in Cotai, where they apprehended the 42 targeted mainlanders.
The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately HK$3 million in cash, HK$160,000 in gambling chips, and 56 smartphones.
Sou noted that the local and mainland law enforcement authorities have consistently maintained close communication and cooperation, and that they will intensify intelligence sharing and take timely joint actions to combat cross-regional crimes.
Last Wednesday, the Legislative Assembly (AL) passed a government-drafted law bill aimed at combating gambling-related crimes, under which legislation has been amended in order to criminalise illicit money exchanges occurring on casino and other gaming industry-related premises.
Sou pointed out that the new law aimed to help combat illicit money exchanges activities. “After the new law comes into effect, there will be a legal basis for combating multiple activities involving illegal money-changing in Macau, as well as legal tools and related enforcement powers that will allow us to severely penalise unlicensed currency-exchange dealers,” Sou told reporters yesterday.
The 42 mainland illegal money exchange dealers are being transferred to the mainland authorities in the area between Zhuhai’s Gongbei and Macau’s Barrier Gate border checkpoints yesterday. – Photos: William Chan
Judiciary Police (PJ) Deputy Director Sou Sio Keong (centre) shakes hands with a mainland Public Security Bureau officer after the transfer process.
