Over HK$58,000 in Casino Chips Seized in Routine Patrol Operation
A 37-year-old unemployed woman has been arrested in Macau on suspicion of running an unauthorised currency exchange operation near a Cotai casino. According to reports from Macao Daily, the suspect, surnamed Chou, was apprehended by Judiciary Police officers who were conducting surveillance in the area during a routine patrol.
Police officers noticed Chou behaving suspiciously with a male individual near the entrance of a casino. Surveillance revealed that the two exchanged a QR code, leading to the male gambler transferring funds to Chou in exchange for HK$45,000 in casino chips. The pair were intercepted shortly after attempting to enter the casino.
HK$58,300 in Chips Recovered, Profits Totaling RMB90,000 Alleged
A search of Chou’s belongings uncovered HK$58,300 worth of casino chips and a mobile phone suspected to have been used in the illicit transaction. The male gambler involved still had HK$30,000 in chips, having reportedly lost HK$15,000 soon after the exchange took place.
Further investigation revealed that Chou had agreed to exchange RMB42,750 for HK$45,000, securing a profit of RMB750 from that single transaction. Authorities allege that Chou has conducted similar unauthorised exchanges since November 2024, amassing illegal profits totalling approximately RMB90,000 (US$12,400).
Charges Filed Under Gambling-Related Currency Laws
The case has now been officially filed under the charge of “unlawful currency exchange for gambling,” a criminal offence under Macau law that targets unlicensed financial activities connected to the casino industry. Chou has since been transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office for formal proceedings.
Broader Enforcement Against Illicit Financial Activity
This arrest is part of ongoing law enforcement efforts to crack down on unregulated currency operations and financial crimes surrounding Macau’s casinos. Authorities have increased surveillance and enforcement in response to concerns over money laundering, illegal exchanges, and grey-market financial networks that often exploit high-traffic gambling zones.
