Man convicted of operating money service without licence
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Customs officers received a report in July last year that the man had been providing money services without a licence. After investigations, Customs officers discovered that the man operated a money service without a licence between June and August 2024, involving a total remittance amount of approximately $1.65 million.
Customs welcomes the sentence. This sentencing serves as a deterrent, sending a clear warning to unlicensed money service operators that Customs will not tolerate any illegal activities.
Under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance, a person who wishes to operate a remittance or money changing service needs to first obtain a licence from the Customs and Excise Department. The maximum penalty for such operators without a valid licence upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.
Customs reminds consumers to procure services from licensed money service operators. A register of licensees is accessible from the website of Customs' Money Service Operators Licensing System at eservices.customs.gov.hk/MSOS/wsrh/001s1?request_locale=en.
Members of the public may report any suspected unlicensed money service operation to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/).
Ends/Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:45
Issued at HKT 14:45
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