A total of 18 men and 12 women, aged between 24 and 65, are being investigated for various offences, following a series of multi-agency enforcement operations conducted from 27 November to 9 December 2023.
The operations were led by Bedok Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, Land Transport Authority (LTA), Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA). The operations aimed to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang, including illegal gambling, vice activities, sale of illegal sexual enhancement medicines and illegal hawking.
The details of some of these operations are as follows:
- In an enforcement operation against illegal gambling activities on 7 December 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division raided a unit along Geylang Road. Cash amounting to S$730 and other gambling paraphernalia were seized. Four men, aged between 34 and 65, are being investigated for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Under Section 20(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, any individual who gambles with another person in or from any place or premises in Singapore and knows, or ought reasonably to have known, that the place or premises is an unlawful gambling place shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months or both. Under Section 18(3)(a) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, any 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 5 years.
- Several joint enforcement operations were conducted by officers from Bedok Police Division, HSA, ICA, SCDF and CNB along Geylang Lorongs from 27 November to 6 December 2023. The joint operations looked into fire safety as well as sales of unregistered health products and illegal drug activities. Unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various purported sexual enhancement products with an estimated street value of about $15,300 and about 45g of ‘Ice’, with an estimated street value of about $13,800 were seized. Two men, aged 53 and 59, are being investigated for offences under the Health Products Act 2007. 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.
- On 6 December 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division conducted enforcement operations against two massage establishments located along Geylang Road. One woman, aged 34, was arrested for an offence under the Women’s Charter 1961. Both outlets are being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act 2017.
Officers from the CID, Bedok Police Division and ICA conducted checks at public entertainment outlets and hotels as well as carried out anti-vice operations along Geylang Road and Geylang Lorongs.
- On 5 December 2023, five women, aged between 27 and 40 years old were arrested for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. Six women aged between 31 and 48 years old were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961.
- On 8 December 2023, one man, aged 24, was arrested under the Societies Act 1966.
Officers from the Singapore Customs conducted an enforcement operation against duty-unpaid cigarettes on 1 December 2023. One man, aged 32, was arrested for an offence under the Customs Act 1960. Seven men, aged between 30 and 45, were issued with composition sums under the Customs Act 1960 for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes. Nine cartons, twelve packets and 38 sticks of duty-unpaid cigarettes were seized as part of the operation. 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. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years.
- Officers from LTA conducted an enforcement operation on 8 December 2023 around the vicinity of Geylang, targeting the usage of illegally modified Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs). Three men, aged between 38 and 49, are being investigated for offences under the Active Mobility Act 2017. One PAB, one PMD and one bicycle were also impounded during the operation.
Investigations against the 30 individuals are ongoing.
The 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.
Photo of a massage establishment (suspected to have vice activities) taken during enforcement operations along Geylang Road ▼
Photo of a massage establishment (suspected to have vice activities) taken during enforcement operations along Geylang Road ▼
Unregistered health products seized by HSA ▼
Gambling paraphernalia seized during a joint enforcement operation against illegal gambling along Geylang Road ▼
Photo of an impounded bicycle ▼
Photo of an impounded non-compliant PAB ▼
Duty-unpaid cigarettes seized from Singapore Customs operations ▼
Substances believed to be ‘Ice’ seized by CNB ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
27 December 2023 @ 11:00 AM