Authorities in Macao have apprehended a man from Mainland China, identified as Yang, in his 30s, for allegedly selling counterfeit casino chips at a resort in the Cotai district. According to police reports, Yang was taken into custody in the early hours of June 20 after he approached a man and a woman who were attempting illegal currency exchanges. He reportedly offered them more than $7,600 worth of casino chips in exchange for Chinese yuan, presenting the deal as a discounted offer.
The couple initially agreed to the arrangement and transferred their money electronically to Yang's accounts in Mainland China. However, upon receiving the chips, they became suspicious and ultimately refused to accept them, stating that the chips were fake. An argument ensued, prompting a casino security guard to step in and call the police.
When officers arrived at the scene, they arrested Yang, finding that he had arrived in Macao just a day prior to the incident. Investigators noted that Yang was wearing a Bluetooth earpiece at the time of his arrest, suggesting he was receiving audio directions from undisclosed accomplices about which individuals to approach.
Police confirmed that Yang possessed an additional 15 counterfeit gaming chips, valued at $1,275, during his arrest. Images of the seized chips released by the Macao Judicial Police Department indicated that while the fake chips were similar in size and weight to the resort's genuine chips, they lacked the casino's specific anti-counterfeiting hologram and featured different colors and fonts.
Yang faces charges related to large-scale fraud, and authorities indicated that they plan to pursue charges against the couple for their involvement in illegal currency exchange activities.
In recent months, Macao police have intensified efforts to curtail unlawful currency exchanges, responding to an uptick in fraud, robbery, and kidnapping incidents linked to illegal money exchange operators and loan sharks. In response to this growing problem, lawmakers passed the Act on Combating Illegal Gambling Crimes late last year, empowering courts to impose stricter penalties on offenders.
Despite a rising number of tourists in Macao, casino revenues have declined. Transport police reported an average of 116,000 visitors arriving each day, representing a 10% increase compared to the previous year. Most tourists, approximately 75%, hail from Mainland China, while around 20% are from South Korea.
