Macau Junket Operator Unmasked as Mafia Kingpin

Ji Xiaobo, a former Macau junket operator and the executive who oversaw the controversial Saipan casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI), has been declared a criminal kingpin by a Beijing court.

The Beijing Municipal First Intermediate People’s Court ruled on November 24, that Ji was involved in various crimes, including “picking quarrels and provoking trouble, unlawful intrusion into a home, illegal debt, transporting others across the border, and establishing a casino”.

The charges are believed to relate to his time as an executive of Macau junket Hengsheng Group and as project director for IPI.

Ji's criminal syndicate reportedly operated between 2008 and 2021, seeking to make illegal profits by setting up casinos outside China.

His employees are found guilty of using violence and threats to demand the repayment of gambling debts, and also of organising people to convert the debts accrued as a result of gambling by transferring assets.

The court also sentenced 15 other people, including Ji's aunt Cui Limei, who was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison and fined RMB200,000 (US$28,170).

Ji's foray into Macau began in 2011 when his Hengsheng Group ran a single VIP room and 12 tables at Star World Hotel.

His business swiftly grew to seven VIP rooms and 86 tables in only two years. However, Hengsheng Group closed after Ji's disappearance, which is believed to have occurred following the arrests of fellow junket operators Suncity's Alvin Chau and Tak Chun’s Levo Chan.

Ji's mother, Cui Lijie, is IPI’s majority shareholder. IPI was founded after Cui Lijie acquired 74.99% of the issued shares of First Natural Foods Holdings, which was renamed Imperial Pacific International Holdings in May 2014.

The company then successfully bid for the only gambling licence on Saipan, opening temporary casino Best Sunshine the following year.

Ji's current whereabouts are unknown, with speculation suggesting he may be hiding from the authorities in Tokyo. His case will be tried separately.