According to the decree published in the Official Gazette of the territory, the protocol provides for the exchange of 'financial information' to combat money laundering related to 'predicate offenses', terrorism financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The memorandum of understanding will be signed with the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe.
As per the directive of the decree signed by the head of the executive authority Sam Hou Fai on February 17, the Secretary for Security Chan Zi King may delegate this mission to the General Commander of the Special Police Unit (SPU), Leong Man Cheong.
The Macao Information Management Bureau (GIF), which is responsible for combating money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, operates under the auspices of the SPU.
In March 2022, the annual report of the U.S. Department of State classified Macao as one of the major global centers for money laundering.
According to the annual report of GIF, in 2019, Macao became the only member of the Asia-Pacific Group on Money Laundering (GAFI) that complied with 'all 40 international standards' for preventing money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In May 2025, Macao also concluded an agreement with Angola on information exchange to prevent money laundering, terrorism financing, or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
GIF Macao has signed information exchange agreements with 33 countries and territories, including the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Portuguese Police in 2008, the Financial Intelligence Unit of the Central Bank of Timor-Leste in 2018, as well as the Council for Financial Activities Control of Brazil and the Financial Intelligence Unit of Cabo Verde in 2019.
According to official GIF data, the number of suspicious transactions registered in Macao casinos increased by 8.7% in the first half of the current year compared to the same period in 2025.
Six casino operators in Macao submitted a total of 2018 reports of suspicious transactions related to money laundering or terrorism financing from January to June.
At the end of May, the regional government also announced that the Data Protection and Privacy Department (DSPDP) would sign cooperation agreements with relevant bodies in Sao Tome and Principe and Cabo Verde.
Two weeks later, the DSPDP reported that these agreements would improve the 'cooperation chain between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the areas of data security and personal privacy protection.'