The police force in Macao is providing crime prevention training to the region's casinos and integrated resorts. This initiative focuses primarily on collaborating with the six companies that hold casino concessions from the Macao government. The latest workshop took place at MGM Cotai in late June, as reported by the Japanese-language outlet Macau Shinbum.
Fourteen police experts led training sessions on various topics, covering areas such as organized crime, criminal technology, fraud, and fraud prevention. A total of 48 MGM employees participated in the sessions, including individuals from security, casino operations, cashier, surveillance, and gaming machine operations departments.
One key topic addressed in the workshops was currency-exchange-related crimes. There has been a significant rise in incidents involving illicit currency exchange both within and outside Macao casinos. Reports indicate that bogus chip vendors are targeting gamblers at the casinos and resorts. In recent weeks, police have made several arrests in connection to these crimes, with the majority of suspects hailing from Mainland China.
In addition, police experts discussed ways casino staff can aid in preventing telephone, romance, and investment fraud. They also provided insights on combating drug-related crime and human trafficking within casinos. Officers shared details on the forensic techniques detectives employ at crime scenes, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between casino staff and law enforcement during investigations.
A police spokesperson noted that the workshops were positively received, with many participants expressing satisfaction. The Judiciary Police have pledged to maintain close cooperation with the casino and integrated resort sectors, aiming to keep each other informed on security issues and to help “deter and eradicate” various forms of crime. Further crime prevention training sessions for gaming industry workers are also planned, alongside the development of a joint police-civilian crime prevention platform designed to enhance collaboration in maintaining public order.
Additionally, Macau Shinbum reported that police arrested two men from Mainland China accused of selling counterfeit banknotes. These individuals were apprehended after allegedly selling fake Hong Kong dollar notes in a Cotai casino. They posed as successful gamblers looking to quickly sell off their winnings for Chinese yuan, and officers confiscated 300 counterfeit banknotes during the operation. One victim nearly fell for the scam, agreeing to pay over $38,000 before notifying authorities upon realizing the banknotes bore identical serial numbers. Another victim, a middle-aged woman, agreed to pay over $21,800 for the counterfeit currency. Police indicated that the two suspects had smuggled the fake notes from Mainland China.
