Macau authorities have arrested 14 people in connection with an alleged extortion operation involving casino security employees accused of collecting payments from individuals suspected of committing offenses inside a Cotai gaming venue.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) said the group allegedly obtained at least HK$1.4 million from around 30 people between March 2025 and July 2026 by offering to prevent suspected cases from being reported to law enforcement.
The suspects included nine casino security employees and five alleged intermediaries. Police said the security personnel allegedly used their positions inside the gaming venue to identify individuals involved in suspected theft, fraud and other violations before demanding payments in exchange for suppressing the cases.
Among the nine casino employees were two security managers, one supervisor and six other members of the security department. Police said one of the managers allegedly acted as the leader of the group and directed other staff members involved in the operation.
Alleged Payments Collected Through Intermediaries
Investigators said the five intermediaries played a role in locating potential targets, contacting them and collecting the requested payments. According to police, security staff allegedly increased monitoring of selected individuals and threatened to begin procedures that could result in their removal from the casino if payments were not made.
As reported by Asia Gaming Brief, the alleged fees ranged from HK$5,000 to HK$40,000, depending on the seriousness of the suspected offense. Police described these payments as “case dismissal fees” or “protection fees” allegedly requested in exchange for avoiding official reports.
After receiving money, the security employees allegedly encouraged affected individuals not to continue with complaints, kept the cases from being reported to the Judiciary Police and allowed the individuals involved to leave the casino.
Authorities said they contacted seven mainland Chinese witnesses who allegedly paid the group. The witnesses, consisting of five men and two women, were themselves linked to suspected casino-related offenses, including theft, fraud and unauthorized collection of tips.
The alleged proceeds were reportedly divided among members of the group based on their roles and level of involvement.
Police Launch Arrest Operation In Cotai
The Judiciary Police carried out arrests on July 28 at a Cotai casino and several residential locations. The 14 suspects, aged between 26 and 66, were taken into custody and later referred to the Public Prosecutions Office.
Twelve of the suspects are Macau residents, while two are mainland Chinese residents.
Police said the investigation began after receiving information about the alleged activity. Following inquiries, authorities identified individuals willing to provide testimony regarding the payments made to the suspects.
The arrested individuals face allegations including organized crime, extortion, coercion and harboring offenders. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
The Judiciary Police emphasized that casino security personnel are expected to cooperate with law enforcement and maintain safety and order within gaming venues. Officials said the alleged conduct represented an abuse of authority by employees entrusted with security responsibilities.
The PJ stated that the actions under investigation had “severely damaged” Macau’s image as a tourism destination and affected security and order within the casino environment.
Police said the alleged scheme involved employees who were expected to handle suspected criminal activity through proper procedures. Instead, investigators allege that members of the group used their positions to obtain financial benefits and prevent cases from reaching authorities.