PJ arrests three in illegal currency exchange crackdown

The Judiciary Police (PJ) have arrested three mainland men in connection with two separate incidents of illegal currency exchange, with one suspect assaulting a police officer during an attempted escape.

In the first incident, police were patrolling hotels and casinos in the Cotai area as part of a crackdown on illicit money exchanges. Officers observed two men acting suspiciously and approaching gamblers to facilitate currency exchanges.

When approached by police, one of the suspects fled the scene and punched a police officer in the back, causing injury. However, the officer was still able to assist in apprehending the suspect, along with another man in his 30s.
Both admitted to engaging in illegal exchanges at the casino since November of last year, with one claiming to have made profits of HKD50,000. Authorities seized HKD177,000 in total during the operation.

In a separate incident, a 40-year-old mainland man was arrested for allegedly conducting fraudulent money exchanges at a Cotai casino.

The suspect received HKD30,000 in casino chips from the victim, claiming to have transferred the money. However, the victim later discovered that no such transfer had been made and reported the crime to the authorities.

The PJ continue to investigate both cases. VC