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

Macao Post Daily quoted police sources as saying that the police Monday captured the suspects at an apartment flat in the city's Taipa area where they were found holding a mainland tourist under detention and threatening the victim over gambling debts.

The trio, from the mainland province of Zhejiang, has earlier offered the victim loans worth 180,000 Hong Kong dollars (US$22,500) and demanded "a commission" of 10 percent, the sources told the newspaper.

The suspects 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 August 31, 2006)