50 Persons Investigated In Multi-Agency Enforcement Operations

A total of 27 men and 23 women, aged between 17 and 77, are being investigated for various offences, following a multi-agency enforcement operation conducted from 6 to 10 March 2023.

The operation was led by Bedok Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The operation aimed to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang, including illegal gambling, vice activities and sale of illegal sexual enhancement medication, among others.

The details of some of these operations are as follows:

In a joint enforcement operation against illegal gambling involving officers from Bedok Police Division, ICA and MOM, a unit along Geylang Road was raided. Five men and 16 women, aged between 35 and 77, are being investigated for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Of the five men investigated, a 36-year-old man is also being investigated for working without a valid work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. More than $83,000 in cash and gambling paraphernalia were seized. Under Section 24(3)(a) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, an individual who organises or manages, or assists in organising or managing an unlawful gambling place shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment of up to five years. Under Section 18(3)(a) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, an individual who conducts betting operations, gaming, or lotteries unlawfully, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $200,000 and imprisonment of up to five years.
In a series of joint enforcement operations along the Geylang Lorongs involving officers from HSA, ICA and CNB, electronic vaporisers and unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various sexual enhancement products with an estimated value of around $5,000 were seized. Three men, aged between 19 and 46, are being investigated under the Health Products Act 2007. Of the three men investigated, a 26-year-old man is also being investigated under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisement and Sales) Act 1993. Those found guilty of importing, manufacturing and/or supplying of unregistered health products, may be liable to an imprisonment term for up to two years and/or fined up to $50,000. Those found guilty of selling, offering for sale, possessing for sale, importing, or distributing e-vaporisers and its accessories, are liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both, for the first offence; and to a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, for the second or subsequent offence. In addition, for possessing, using, or purchasing such items, offenders are liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000.
Officers from Singapore Customs conducted an enforcement operation along the Geylang Lorongs against duty-unpaid cigarettes, and a 26-year-old man was arrested under the Customs Act 1960, while 15 men, aged between 27 and 68, were issued composition sums and an advisory under the Customs Act 1960. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing, or dealing with duty-unpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act 1960 and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act 1993.
Officers from Bedok Police Division conducted an enforcement operation against an exempted massage establishment along Geylang Road. Five women, aged between 17 and 41, were arrested for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. A 31-year-old man is also being investigated for employing a foreign employee without a valid work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
Officers from MOM also led an enforcement operation against illegal employment in the vicinity of Geylang Serai. A 31-year-old man and a 34-year-old woman were arrested for working without a valid work pass under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. Those convicted can be fined up to $20,000, jailed for up to two years, or both.
Officers from LTA conducted an enforcement operation against non-compliant active mobility devices. A 23-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man are under investigation for offences under the Road Traffic Act 1961 for their involvement in riding of non-compliant and unregistered Power-Assisted Bicycles (“PAB”). Any person who rides a non-compliant PAB on any road may face a fine of up to $20,000, imprisonment of up to 24 months, or both. In the case of a repeat offender, a fine not exceeding $40,000, imprisonment up to 48 months, or both. Persons who use or keep an unregistered PAB may face a fine not exceeding $2,000, imprisonment of up to three months, or both. In the case of a subsequent conviction, they may face a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.

Investigations against the 50 individuals are ongoing.

Commanding Officer of Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Raub expressed his appreciation to all the agencies involved for their strong support and commended the officers for their professionalism and excellent teamwork during the operation. The Police will continue to work closely with other enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal activities.

The Police take a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities and will take firm action against those who blatantly disregard the law. Members of the public are advised to report those engaging in unlawful activities to the Police.

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