Wan “Broken Tooth” Kuok-koi, a well-known casino junket operator, traid, and crypto enthusiast, has been sanctioned by the United States federal government.
The news broke when the US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that they had implemented sanctions against a number of “corrupt actors and their networks across several countries in Africa and Asia.” The OFAC said they had announced the move in line with International Anti-Corruption Day, which was launched by the UN in 2003.
US-based assets that are controlled, or partially controlled, by any of the sanctioned entities are “blocked and must be reported to OFAC.” The sanctions prohibit any and all transactions “by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States” that might involve said assets.
“Broken Tooth” is amongst the people sanctioned, as a result of his reported affiliation with the Communist Party (CCP) of China’s Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and as “a leader of the 14K Triad.”
Wan was officially released from Macau’s Coloane Prison back in 2012, after serving 14-years for charges of loan-sharking, illegal gambling, and criminal association. He immediately indicated that he would be returning to Macau’s VIP gambling world, but only opened his own VIP room years after.
The OFAC brought charges against Wan due to his alleged senior role in the 14K Triad. The OFAC claimed that 14K is trying to “legitimize itself” through Wan’s involvement in the World Hongmen History and Culture Association.
