Macao's police force is actively engaging with local casinos and integrated resorts to enhance crime prevention measures. A recent workshop took place at MGM Cotai in late June, as reported by the Japanese-language newspaper Macau Shinbum.
The Judiciary Police's primary aim during these workshops is to collaborate with the six companies that hold casino concessions granted by the Macao government. Fourteen police experts led sessions covering various topics including criminal technology, organized crime, fraud, and methods to prevent fraud.
At MGM, 48 employees from various departments—such as security, casino operations, cashiering, surveillance, and gaming machine operations—participated in the training.
One significant focus of the workshop was crimes related to currency exchange. The police noted a rise in black market currency exchange crimes both in and outside Macao's casinos, including cases of bogus chip vendors targeting gamblers.
In recent weeks, police have conducted numerous arrests linked to these crimes, with most suspects originating from Mainland China. The workshops also included discussions led by experts in fraud, highlighting the emergence of misleading gambling mentors enticing Mainland China residents, promising to teach them money-making strategies at Macao casinos.
In addition, the sessions addressed how casino staff could help combat various types of fraud, such as telephone scams, romance scams, and investment fraud. The police also provided insights on tackling drug trafficking and human trafficking at casinos, explaining how to use forensic techniques in crime scene investigations and how casino personnel should collaborate with the police during inquiries.
A police spokesperson indicated that the training was positively received, with many participants providing favorable feedback. Looking ahead, the Judiciary Police remain committed to strengthening their ties with the casino and integrated resort sectors. They plan to ensure that both parties remain informed about security issues and are dedicated to deterring and eliminating all forms of crime.
The police also announced plans to increase the frequency of crime prevention training for casino workers and are working towards establishing a joint police-civilian crime prevention platform to help the private sector and law enforcement collaborate effectively to maintain public order.
In a separate development, police reported the arrest of two men from Mainland China on charges of selling counterfeit banknotes. They had allegedly sold fake Hong Kong dollar notes at an unnamed Cotai casino. The police revealed that the suspects posed as gamblers claiming to have won large sums in games and sought to sell the fake notes at a discount.
During the operation, law enforcement seized 300 counterfeit banknotes. One victim, who was about to purchase the notes for over $38,000, alerted authorities when he noticed all the bills had identical serial numbers. Another female victim was also caught up in the scam, agreeing to pay more than $21,800 in yuan for the fake currency. Investigations revealed that the counterfeit bills had been smuggled into Macao from Mainland China.
