A total of 22 men and 19 women, aged between 20 and 78, are being investigated for various offences, and 13 men and one woman, aged between 30 and 60, were issued with composition sums, following a series of multi-agency enforcement operations that were conducted from 23 August to 1 September 2024. These operations aimed to clamp down on illegal activities in Geylang area, such as illegal gambling, vice activities, illegal sale of health products, drug-related activities and illegal hawking.
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), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Land Transport Authority (LTA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Singapore Customs.
The details of some of these operations are as follows:
- Officers from the CID, Bedok Police Division and CNB conducted a series of checks at public entertainment outlets, massage establishments and hotels, as well as carried out anti-vice operations along Geylang Road and Geylang Lorongs. On 23 August 2024, five public entertainment outlets along Geylang Road and Aljunied Road were found to have breached the licensing conditions of the Public Entertainments Act 1958. Three male licensees and one female licensee, aged between 35 to 60, were issued with composition sums, while another 53-year-old male licensee will be investigated for the breaches. On 26 August 2024, two massage establishments along Geylang Road were found to be operating illegally. Two men, aged 45 and 57, are being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act 2017. Between 24 August and 1 September 2024, 15 women, aged between 20 and 53, were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961. On 30 August 2024, a 31-year-old man was arrested for an offence under the Societies Act 1966. On 1 September 2024, a 53-year-old man was arrested for offences under National Registration Act 1965 and Immigration Act 1959.
- On 25 August 2024, officers from Bedok Police Division and ICA conducted a series of enforcement operations against illegal gambling activities along Ubi Avenue 3 and Ubi Road 2. Five men and four women, aged between 37 to 69, were arrested for their alleged involvement in offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Another seven men, aged 60 and 78, are being investigated for their alleged involvement in 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 six months or both.
- Between 26 and 29 August 2024, officers from Bedok Police Division, HSA, ICA, and CNB conducted joint enforcement operations along Geylang Lorongs, such as Lorong 11 Geylang, Lorong 20 Geylang, Lorong 21 Geylang, and Lorong 35 Geylang. The joint operations targeted the illegal sale of health products and illegal drug activities. Unregistered health products, including cough syrup, with an estimated total street value of about S$9,100 were seized. Three men, aged between 23 and 33, 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.
- Officers from the Singapore Customs conducted enforcement operation against duty-unpaid cigarettes in Geylang on 29 August 2024. Ten men, aged between 30 and 40, were issued with composition sums under the Customs Act 1960 for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes. 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 29 August 2024 in the vicinity of Geylang, targeting illegally modified Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs). Two men, aged 23 and 72, are being investigated for offences under the Active Mobility Act 2017. One PMD and one PAB were impounded during the operation.
Investigations against the 41 individuals are ongoing.
Commanding Officer of Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre, Superintendent of Police Muhammad Firdaus Abdul Raub expressed his appreciation to all the agencies involved for their strong support. He 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 such illegal activities in Geylang. Offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.
Enforcement against sales of illegal health products at Geylang Lorongs▼
Enforcement operations at public entertainment outlets at Geylang Lorongs.▼
Enforcement operations targeting unlicensed massage services.▼
Enforcement operations at hotels in Geylang Lorongs.▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
30 September 2024 @ 10:00 AM