A total of 47 men and three women, aged between 21 and 73, are being investigated for various offences, following multi-agency enforcement operations conducted between 29 September 2023 and 9 October 2023.
The operations were 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) 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 medication and illegal hawking, and to share crime advisories on how residents could protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim to crime.
Investigations are ongoing against the 50 persons arrested during the series of enforcement operations listed below:
- In a joint enforcement operation against illegal gambling on 29 September 2023, officers from Bedok Police Division and ICA raided a unit in an industrial building along Sims Ave. A total of 24 men and one woman, aged between 27 and 73, are being investigated for offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Cash amounting to more than $4000 and various gambling-related paraphernalia were seized. Under Section 20(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022, an 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. 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 involving officers from HSA, ICA and CNB along Lorong 20 and Lorong 22 Geylang that were conducted between 3 October 2023 and 5 October 2023, unregistered health products consisting of cough syrup and various sexual enhancement medicines with an estimated value of more than $11,000 were seized. Two men, aged 29 and 38, are being investigated under the Health Products Act 2007. Those found guilty of importing, manufacturing and/or supplying unregistered health products, may be liable to an imprisonment term for up to two years and/or fined up to $50,000.
- Officers from Bedok Police Division conducted an enforcement operation against one massage establishment located along Geylang Road on 4 October 2023. A 48-year-old woman was arrested for a vice-related offence under the Women’s Charter 1961. Another 67-year-old woman is being investigated for offences under the Massage Establishments Act 2017.
- On 6 October 2023, Officers from LTA conducted an enforcement operation in the vicinity of Geylang, targeting illegally modified Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) and Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs). Eight men and one woman, aged between 24 and 67, are being investigated for various offences under the Active Mobility Act 2017. Two PABs were also impounded during the operation.
- On 7 October 2023, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Bedok Police Division conducted checks at public entertainment outlets located along Geylang Road and Geylang Lorongs. Two men, aged 23 and 38, were arrested under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966. Under Section 14(3) of the Societies Act 1966, any person who is or acts as a member of an unlawful society, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both.
- On 9 October 2023, officers from the Singapore Customs conducted enforcement against duty-unpaid cigarettes. Ten men, aged between 21 and 55, were issued with composition sums and advisories under the Customs Act 1960 for possessing duty-unpaid cigarettes. A total of 16 packets and 72 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 Geylang Neighbourhood Police Centre also shared crime prevention advisories with residents staying in the vicinity of Lorong 8, Lorong 14 and Lorong 16 Geylang to remind Members of the Public not to leave their belongings unattended and to always keep their valuables locked in a safe or locker.
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. He said “The Police will continue to work closely with other enforcement agencies to clamp down on illegal activities, strengthen community ties and keep our neighbourhood safe and secure. 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.”
Common Gaming House Operation – gambling-related paraphernalia used in the unit ▼
Common Gaming House Operation – arrested individuals escorted by officers ▼
Sexual Enhancement Medicines ▼
Assortment of Sexual Enhancement Medicines ▼
Checking for illegal modifications to PABs ▼
Assortment of Cough Syrup ▼
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 October 2023 @ 11:00 AM