The Macao police have nabbed four suspects over casino loan-sharking charges, local media reported Tuesday.

Macao Post Daily quoted police sources as saying that the police Sunday captured the suspects at a downtown hotel where they were found holding a mainland tourist under detention and threatening the victim over gambling debts.

The quartet has earlier offered the victim loans worth eight million Hong Kong dollars (US$1.14 million) with a daily "interest rate" of one percent, the sources told the newspaper.

The suspects, including three male locals and one female mainlander, have been transferred to the Public Prosecution for further investigations and possible arraignment on unlawful detention and other charges, the sources were cited.

Loan sharking has long been a common crime in Macao, a world famous casino gaming hut.

(Xinhua News Agency March 15, 2006)