55 from suspected organised crime group arrested; almost S$600,000 seized

SINGAPORE — The Police and Singapore Customs have seized almost S$600,000 in cash from a suspected organised criminal group, in a first joint operation between the two agencies since the Organised Crime Act was passed in 2015.

The group is suspected to be involved in various forms of criminal acts, such as unlicensed moneylending and operating illegal gambling dens, the police said in a media release on Tuesday (Oct 17).

The suspects — 44 men and 11 women, aged between 19 and 79 — were arrested in simultaneous raids at more than 10 locations across the island on Saturday (Oct 14), including Ang Mo Kio, Geylang, Sengkang, Toa Payoh and Yishun.

Cash amounting to S$596,517, documents believed to be unlicensed moneylending records, computers, mobile phones, gambling paraphernalia and more than 550 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized. The police also initiated the freezing of the suspects’ bank accounts.

The group allegedly comprised networks of members who had various roles, such as facilitating unlicensed moneylending business and illegal gambling activities, and peddling and storing of duty-unpaid cigarettes. These activities took place at different locations in Singapore.

The suspects are being investigated under the Organised Crime Act 2015, Moneylenders Act, Common Gaming Houses Act, Societies Act, and Customs Act.

Any person who is part of a locally-linked organised criminal group faces up to S$100,000 in fine and/or jail up to five years.

Those who buy, sell, convey, deliver, store, keep, possess or deal with duty-unpaid goods can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.

In November last year, 33 people suspected of operating a vast illegal gambling ring were arrested in what was the first bust under the Organised Crime Act, a statute that took effect in June 2015 giving the police wide-ranging pre-emptive powers.

Commenting on last Saturday’s bust, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigations & Intelligence) and Director of the Criminal Investigation Department Tan Chye Hee said both agencies will “spare no efforts to continue to disrupt and dismantle these organised crime groups and deprive them of their ill-gotten gains”.