Macao and Mozambique Sign Anti-Money Laundering Pact
Macao and Mozambique are set to forge a new partnership in the global fight against financial crime. The two jurisdictions will sign a formal agreement to exchange financial intelligence aimed at preventing money laundering and the financing of terrorism, the Macao government announced on Monday.
A Transnational Crackdown on Illicit Flows
According to a dispatch published in Macao’s Official Gazette, the protocol establishes a framework for sharing sensitive data to combat “associated underlying crimes,” including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The memorandum of understanding will be signed directly with the Financial Intelligence Unit of Mozambique.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai authorized the agreement on October 12, designating Secretary for Security Chan Tsz King to oversee the mission. The operational responsibilities may be further delegated to Leong Man Cheong, the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service (SPU), which supervises Macao’s Financial Intelligence Office (GIF).
Cleaning Up the World’s Gambling Capital
The move comes as Macao continues to bolster its international reputation following a 2022 U.S. State Department report that labeled the territory a major money-laundering jurisdiction. Since then, the city has aggressively sought to align with global standards.
According to the GIF, Macao reached a significant milestone in 2019 by becoming the only member of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) to comply with all 40 international preventative standards. The territory has been particularly active in building ties with Portuguese-speaking nations, having already signed similar intelligence-sharing pacts with Angola, Portugal, Timor-Leste, Brazil, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe.
Casino Oversight Intensifies
Macao’s GIF now holds information exchange agreements with 33 countries and territories worldwide. This expanding network is critical for the world’s largest gambling hub, where financial scrutiny is at an all-time high.
Official data reveals that Macao’s six major casino operators reported 2,968 suspicious transactions between January and September of this year—a 7.9% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This rise in reporting highlights both the scale of capital flowing through the territory and the heightened vigilance of local regulators in flagging potential criminal activity.
Image: Pexels – 鱼 木
