152 people arrested, 466 investigated after islandwide blitz against illegal gambling, vice and drug-related activities

SINGAPORE — A total of 152 people have been arrested in multiple islandwide enforcement operations, the police said on Friday (Jan 13).

The arrests were linked to 80 operations conducted between Dec 28, 2022 and Jan 10, 2023 after checks on more than 1,500 people, the police said in their statement. 

A total of 466 people, including 309 men and 157 women, are also being investigated for crimes such as illegal gambling, vice activities and drug-related offences, among others.

The 152 arrested include a 24-year-old man, who was caught allegedly possessing a scheduled weapon.  

Another man, 24, was also arrested for allegedly carrying an offensive weapon.

A push dagger, knuckle duster and knife were seized as case exhibits.

More than 640 officers were deployed across various police land divisions for the operations.

One of these operations took place on Tuesday in Geylang, after which three men and four women, aged between 34 and 73, were investigated for their involvement in offences related to illegal gambling.

The operation was jointly conducted with officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

Officers seized cash amounting to over S$48,000 and gambling paraphernalia such as makeshift gambling tables and gambling chips. 

In the same operation, two men aged between 31 and 41 were brought in for investigation by HSA in relation to possessing unregistered health products, including various sexual enhancement medicines with an estimated value of S$3,317.

The products have since been seized.

In another operation on Jan 4, officers from Woodlands Police Division seized cash amounting to over S$1,200 and five handphones containing evidence of gambling and betting paraphernalia.

The police are also investigating a 41-year-old woman and five men aged between 58 and 74 for gambling-related offences in relation to the Woodlands operation.

In addition, six men aged between 20 and 33 were arrested on Dec 31, 2022 by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department during a series of secret society suppression operations at Sentosa, Clarke Quay, Orchard Road and several public entertainment and nightlife establishments across Singapore.  

Acting Director of Operations Department, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Gregory Tan, commended the strong collaboration and efforts by the police and the various agencies involved in the above joint operations. 

He added that the police have been stepping up enforcement posture over the past two months. 

AC Tan said: “As we resume normalcy in our daily activities with the easing of Covid-19 safe management measures, the police will continue our efforts to combat crime and take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law.”

He also reminded members of the public not to be complacent regarding crime prevention measures, and report those engaging in criminal activities to the police.