Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ) has expressed concern over what it says is an increase in illegal currency exchange activities in the city following rising visitor traffic in recent days.
According to a PJ press release, the number of gaming-related crimes between August 2020 and January 2021 fell 90% year-to-year, mainly due to plunging visitor arrivals as a result of COVID-19. However, while it didn’t provide detailed figures, the PJ said visitor numbers have started to rise since Chinese New Year as a recent outbreak in mainland China eases – resulting in so-called “currency exchange parties” becoming far more active.
In response, the PJ’s Gaming-related and Economic Crimes Investigation Department, alongside the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ), held a meeting with representatives of Macau’s six gaming concessionaires on Friday at PJ headquarters where government officials urged the concessionaires to implement further policies in order to prevent and combat gaming-related crimes.
The PJ said it had requested that all concessionaires beef up their security teams to conduct more inspections on currency exchanging black spots. It also suggested posting publicity materials in prominent areas reminding the public that all currency exchange should be done in banks or legal exchange stores.
