River Rock Casino was identified as a key site for money laundering activities in a 2018 report on organized crime in BC casinos. (Image: Darryl Brooks / Alamy)
It reads like a chapter in a crime novel and has all the elements of a Bond movie baddie. The plot has travelled international borders, including China, the USA, and Canada. The British Columbian Government and an alleged gangster's spouse are involved in a lawsuit over a significant amount of money, and the leader of an alleged criminal gang stands accused of crimes such as kidnapping and extortion.
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Businessman Alleged to Be Criminal Gang Leader
The issue of money laundering has surged into the spotlight, particularly concerning the Asian market. A recent case in British Columbia has drawn attention to alleged illicit activities linked to Tujie Lai, a purported multimillionaire and leader of a criminal gang in Macao, who is facing claims of money laundering amounting to $880,000.
The bond for Lai's release was paid by his spouse, Wenyi Chen, to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) in October 2019 after Lai was handed over by the US Border Patrol for illegally crossing the border.
Further investigations revealed that Lai allegedly led a gang involved in kidnapping and extortion, with claims of transferring $12 million from Macao and Hong Kong while possessing an additional $100 million available in Canadian currency.
Lai Was Being Watched by Regulators in British Columbia
The director of civil forfeiture argues that the bond represents proceeds of crime linked to transactions at BC casinos. According to reports, Lai engaged in suspicious cash exchanges at Lower Mainland casinos, including redeeming $610,000 in casino chips in July 2017 alone. The BC Lottery Corporation subsequently imposed restrictions on him, requiring proof of the source of any funds he brought to the casinos.
Casinos Unintentionally Acted as Laundering Avenues
This case highlights findings from a 2018 independent report, which revealed B.C. casinos had unintentionally acted as laundering avenues for organised crime, with over $100 million flowing through them connected to illegal drug trafficking. The River Rock Casino was noted as a focal point for these activities.
Lai, who allegedly fled from US border officers before being recaptured, is said to derive his wealth from the "junket industry" in Macao, which involves offering incentives to attract high-stakes gamblers. He has reportedly faced serious criminal charges in China, including extortion and assault.
So far, neither Lai nor Chen have responded to the civil lawsuit, which underscores the mounting scrutiny of money laundering within the casino sector.
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News WriterMost of my career was spent in teaching including at one of the UK’s top private schools. I left London in 2000 and set up home in Wales raising four beautiful children. I enrolled at University where I studied Photography and film and gained a Degree and subsequently a Masters Degree. In 2014 I helped launch a new local newspaper and managed to get front and back page as well as 6 filler pages on a weekly basis. I saw that journalism was changing and was a pioneer of hyperlocal news in Wales. In 2017 I started one of the first 24/7 free independent news sites for Wales. Having taken that to a successful business model I was keen for a new challenge. Joining the company is exciting for me especially as it is a new role in Europe. I am keen to establish myself and help others to do the same.
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