Macau Judiciary Police and Mainland Authorities Dismantle Cross-Border Money Laundering and Fraud Network

The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested 25 individuals from Hong Kong and mainland China on Thursday in connection with alleged money laundering, fraud, and document forgery activities, PJ spokesman Leng Kam Lon confirmed during a special press briefing on Friday. The arrests form part of a broader cross-border investigation targeting an organised criminal group operating between Macau and mainland China, with parallel enforcement actions also carried out by mainland authorities.

Leng stated that the group consisted of two suspects from Hong Kong and 23 from mainland China, with ages ranging between 22 and 62. He also noted that the Public Security Bureau (PSB) in mainland China simultaneously arrested an additional 40 suspected members of the same criminal network across several provinces and cities, expanding the scope of the crackdown beyond Macau’s jurisdiction.

According to Chan Cho Man, head of the PJ Criminal Investigation Department, the investigation determined that since January of the previous year, the syndicate had been actively targeting gamblers in the vicinity of hotels in Zape and Cotai. The group allegedly offered what were described as “legal” and “favourable” currency exchange services in order to gain the trust of victims and facilitate illicit financial activity.

Chan explained that the syndicate built credibility with potential victims by forging screenshots of mainland identity documents, creating the impression that financial transfers were being processed through legitimate accounts. This method was used to reassure gamblers that transactions were safe and lawful, when in fact they were part of a fraudulent scheme designed to move illicit funds.

He further stated that in several cases, victims later discovered that their bank accounts had been frozen within days after receiving funds tied to fraudulent activity. In some instances, when these individuals returned to mainland China, they were themselves classified as criminal suspects due to their connection with proceeds originating from fraud-related offences.

Chan reported that a total of 12 victims were identified, suffering combined losses of 3.59 million yuan (equivalent to 4.24 million patacas). These funds were linked to telecom fraud and investment fraud cases spanning eight provinces and cities across mainland China, indicating a wide geographic spread of the underlying criminal activity.

The investigation also revealed that the syndicate relied heavily on virtual currencies to move illicit proceeds, with at least HK$45.6 million (47.0 million patacas) reportedly involved in money laundering transactions. The group is also believed to have generated approximately HK$2.5 million in illegal profits through these operations.

According to the Judiciary Police, coordinated investigative efforts were carried out in cooperation with the Public Security Bureau, which helped identify a transnational criminal organisation operating between Macau and mainland China. This cooperation enabled authorities to map the structure of the network and identify individuals involved at different operational levels.

On Thursday, PJ officers arrested the 25 suspects across multiple locations, including the Macau peninsula, three hotel rooms in Cotai, and various border checkpoints. During the operation, authorities also seized HK$5.7 million in cash along with equipment allegedly used for document forgery, including printers, anti-counterfeit labels, and a card shredder.

Chan further stated that PSB officers conducted additional arrests in mainland China, detaining nine more suspects across several regions, including three individuals described as alleged ringleaders of the organisation. In a related development, mainland authorities also dismantled 11 underground banking operations in Zhuhai that were linked to the same money laundering network, resulting in the arrest of another 31 suspects.

Following the operation in Macau, the 25 arrested individuals were transferred to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) on Friday, where they each face charges related to money laundering, fraud, and document forgery, as authorities continue to pursue further leads connected to the wider criminal syndicate.

By fLEXI tEAM