The Judiciary Police (PJ) nabbed three illegal exchange dealers on Wednesday, PJ spokesman Lei Chi Hou said during a special press conference yesterday.
Lei identified the trio as a 31-year-old mainland male surnamed Zhou, a 35-year-old mainland female surnamed Yan and a 43-year-old local female surnamed Lam, all of whom claimed to be jobless.
According to Lei, PJ officers noticed Zhou and a gambler engaged in an illegal currency exchange at a casino in Cotai.
After questioning the duo, the officers confirmed that Zhou had exchanged 36,320 yuan for HK$40,000 in cash, earning 400 yuan from the illicit transaction.
Lei said that Zhou had been engaging in illegal currency exchange activities since mid-January, earning around 10,000 yuan until his arrest, adding that PJ officers seized HK$20,000 in cash and a smartphone from Zhou.
In another casino in Cotai, PJ officers noticed that Yan and Lam separately exchanged currency with one gambler, Lei said. Yan exchanged 13,000 yuan for chips worth HK$14,000, while Lam exchanged 4,600 yuan for HK$5,000 in cash. Lei added that Yan earned around HK$80 from the illicit deal, while Lam earned around HK$150.
According to Lei, Yan had been engaged in illegal currency exchange activities since last August, earning HK$6,400 until his arrest. PJ offices seized HK$30,200 in gambling chips and a smartphone from Yan, Lei said.
Lei also said that Lam had been conducting illegal currency exchange activities since last November, earning around HK$50,000. PJ officers seized HK$45,000 in cash, HK$30,000 in gambling chips and two smartphones from her.
The trio were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) yesterday, each facing an illegal currency exchange charge.
Judiciary Police (PJ) officers escort the three hooded illegal currency exchange suspects to PJ vans outside the PJ headquarters in Zape yesterday. – Photos: Armindo Neves
