Representatives of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau, of Macao’s security authorities, and of the city’s casino sector discussed during a meeting how to foster cooperation with regard to the prevention and combatting of illicit currency exchange activities.
The meeting was held on Friday (1 March). Among those present were senior officials of the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau; senior officials of the police; and a total of 14 people collectively representing the city’s six gaming concessionaires.
The authorities had noted as of year-end 2017 the existence of alleged illicit currency exchange in the surroundings of casinos and hotels. Some of this alleged illicit activity had also been linked to other forms of crime such as scamming and robbery, posing a serious threat to community security and the operations of Macao’s casinos.
The Government paid great attention to illicit currency exchange and other linked forms of crime. Government departments worked diligently to introduce measures to curb such activities, the meeting heard.
The police have stepped up their effort against such illicit activities. In the past two months, some 1,000 people suspected of involvement in such illicit activities had been intercepted. In 2018, the police had conducted several large-scale operations and had intercepted a total of 3,050 people allegedly engaging in such activities. All of those intercepted last year had been sent out of Macao.
During Friday’s meeting, police officials said officers would further step up enforcement work against illicit currency exchange activities and enhance intelligence exchange with law enforcement authorities on the mainland. Meanwhile, the police would establish closer contact with the gaming sector in order to share more information to curb such illicit activities.
Meanwhile, representatives of the gaming concessionaries said they agreed with the importance and urgency placed by the local authorities on the fight against illicit currency exchange activities. Sector representatives said they had noticed recently a reduced instance of such activities as a result of the police’s increasing effort.
The gaming concessionaires would proactively cooperate with the police enforcement effort and strengthen their own inspections by their respective security personnel in casinos and hotels, representatives added.
