Mainland China and Macau have joined forces to crack down on unlawful overseas change operations and associated crimes, dismantling 263 syndicates and figuring out illicit funds exceeding RMB800 billion (roughly US$110 billion). The Ministry of Public Safety introduced these outcomes throughout a press briefing, highlighting the intensive community of underground banks and unauthorized cash exchangers working throughout the area.
Chen Shiqu, deputy head of the ministry’s prison investigation division, cited by Macau Enterprise, reported that 846 people have been detained in reference to these syndicates. He acknowledged: “There’s a nice variety of ‘cash change gangs’ concerned within the unlawful buying and selling of overseas change in Macau. These teams show sturdy regional and gang-like attributes.”
Chen additionally famous the interconnected nature of those operations, which continuously tie unlawful forex exchanges to different crimes resembling fraud, theft, extortion, and smuggling, all posing threats to Macau’s social stability.
Unlawful Cash Alternate in Macau
The crackdown revealed that unlicensed cash exchanges have usually been carried out behind closed doorways, notably in Macau lodge rooms. Chen defined that many of those operations are orchestrated remotely, with ringleaders delegating duties to associates unfold throughout varied places, making them tough to detect.
Since October 29, when unlicensed cash change was criminalized underneath Macau’s Regulation to Fight Crimes of Unlawful Playing, authorities in Macau have made substantial progress. Deputy director of Macau’s Judiciary Police, Sou Sio Keong, shared that 84 suspects—primarily from mainland China—have been arrested by November 30. Confiscated property included money and gaming chips valued at HKD9.6 million (US$1.23 million).
Sou additionally affirmed that this new legislation supplies a authorized framework to strengthen legislation enforcement actions, stating that Macau’s authorities will proceed collaborating with mainland safety companies to dismantle these operations.
Guangdong and Zhuhai Be a part of Forces
Efforts to fight illicit overseas change have prolonged into Guangdong province, adjoining to Macau. In response to Wu Wei, deputy head of Guangdong Provincial Public Safety’s prison investigation division, authorities there have investigated 192 circumstances tied to unlawful cash change and related crimes, involving a complete of RMB14.7 billion.
Zhuhai, a key metropolis in Guangdong bordering Macau, has turn into a central hub for addressing these crimes. The Ministry of Public Safety established a specialised process power in Zhuhai to deal with these unlawful operations, which regularly contain mainlanders exploiting Macau’s casinos for overseas change and associated actions.
Macau authorities have repatriated 581 people to Zhuhai for alleged involvement in these schemes, additional underscoring the shut collaboration between the 2 areas.
Cross-Border Coordination Strengthened
Chen Shiqu highlighted that this crackdown is a part of a broader technique to fight not solely unlawful forex change but additionally the prison actions it facilitates, together with cash laundering and scams. He added: “Underneath the collaborative effort of the safety departments of the mainland and Macau… the gangs working these actions and different affiliated crimes they commit now see an efficient clampdown.”
Regardless of these successes, challenges persist. The hidden and distributed nature of those operations requires ongoing vigilance and centered efforts to focus on ringleaders and dismantle underground banking programs.
