194 Persons Arrested And 4 Persons Under Investigation Following A Multi-Agency Enforcement Operation

The Police have arrested 54 men and 140 women, aged between 18 and 72, during a multi-agency enforcement operation conducted between 25 and 30 November 2024. These 194 individuals are being investigated for various offences including working without a valid work permit, suspected consumption and possession of controlled drugs, possession of offensive weapons and offences under the Women’s Charter 1961. Another man and three women, aged between 16 and 20, are being investigated for their suspected involvement in forgery and cheating by personation offences.

The six-day multi-agency operation targeted illicit activities at various massage establishments, public entertainment outlets, private residences and hotels located in the vicinity of Chinatown, Little India, Boat Quay and Bugis. The operation was led by Central Police Division and supported by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department, the Traffic Police, Central Narcotics Bureau and Singapore Civil Defence Force.

In an anti-vice raid conducted at shophouses and commercial units on 30 November 2024, drones with thermal imaging sensors were deployed to support the raid which led to the arrest of seven men, aged between 23 and 61, for suspected vice activities. The deployment of drones in this raid was proven effective in complementing such urban operations.

During a series of checks conducted at public entertainment hotspots, two outlets were found to have breached their liquor licensing conditions after underaged persons were found consuming liquor in their licensed premises. During the checks, four persons were found to have digitally doctored their identification on their mobile devices or produced identification not belonging to them and are being investigated for forgery and cheating by personation. Four other men, aged between 18 and 30, were arrested for being members of an unlawful society.

Five public entertainment outlets were found to have contravened their public entertainment licencing conditions. One outlet was found to have exceeded its permitted occupancy load, while four others were found to have fire safety violations.

In another series of raids at hotels, four men, aged between 37 and 43, were arrested for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. Suspected controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the hotel rooms that were raided. One of the men is also being investigated for possession of offensive weapons.

This multi-agency enforcement operation is part of Central Police Division’s continuous efforts to clamp down on illicit activities and regulatory offences in the area. Please refer to Annex A for photos of the operations and items seized.

For the penalties of the offences which the individuals are arrested or being investigated for, and the offences which the entertainment outlets are being investigated for, please refer to Annex B. 

Annex A – Photos of the operation and items seized▼





Persons arrested during the anti-vice operation at shophouse▼



Deployment of UAV during anti-vice operation at shophouse▼



Suspected controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia▼



Saliva test kits deployed in anti-drug operation at a public entertainment outlet▼



Offensive weapons and vaping devices seized▼



Persons arrested during an operation▼



Persons arrested during raid at public entertainment outlet▼




Annex B – Penalties of Offences

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990

• Employing a foreign employee without a valid work pass is an offence under Section 5(1) of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. It carries a fine of at $5000 and up to $30,000 or a jail term of up to one year, or both.
  
  
• Working without a valid work pass is an offence under Section 5(2) of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. It carries a fine of up to $20,000 or a jail term of up to two years, or both
  
  

Penal Code 1871

• Cheating by personation is an offence under Section 416 of the Penal Code 1871. It carries a fine or a jail term of up to 3 years, or both.
  
  
• Using a forged document is an offence under Section 471 of the Penal Code 1871. It carries a fine or a jail term of up to 4 years, or both.
  
  

Misuse of Drugs Act 1973

• Consumption of controlled drug is an offence under Section 8(b) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. It carries a fine of up to $20,000 or a jail term of not less than 1 year but not more than 10 years or both, or to a minimum jail term of 3 years for the second or subsequent offence.
  
  
• Possession of controlled drug is an offence under Section 8(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. It carries a fine of up to $20,000, or a jail term of not more than 10 years or both, or to a minimum jail term of 2 years for the second or subsequent offence.
  
  
• Possession of drug utensils is an offence under Section 9 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973. It carries a fine of up to $10,000, or a jail term of not more than 3 years or both.|
  
  

Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958

• Carrying offensive weapons in public places is an offence under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958. It carries a jail term of up to 3 years and caning of not less than 6 strokes. 
  
  

Gambling Control Act 2022

• Unlawful conduct of betting operations, gaming or lotteries is an offence under Section 18(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022. It carries a fine of up to $500,000, and a jail term of not more than 7 years.
  
  
• Gambling with unlicensed gambling service provider or at unlawful gambling place is an offence under Section 20(1) and 20(2) of the Gambling Control Act 2022. It carries a fine of up to $10,000, or a jail term of not more than 6 months or both.
  
  
• Owning place used for unlawful gambling is an offence under Section 23(1)(b) of the Gambling Control Act 2022. It carries fine of up to $500,000, and a jail term of not more than 7 years.
  
  

Women’s Charter 1961

• Keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a place of assignation is an offence under Section 147(1) of the Women’s Charter 1961. It carries a fine of up to $100,000, or a jail term of not more than 5 years or both.
  
  

Liquor Control Act 2015

• Supplying liquor beyond trading hours is an offence under Section 6(1) of the Liquor Control Act 2015. It carries a fine of up to $10,000.
  
  
• Supplying or allowing an individual to consume liquor in an licensed premises is under offence under Regulation 11(1)(b) and 11(2) Liquor Control Regulations 2015. It carries a fine of up to $10,000.
  
  

Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act 1993

• The possession, use or purchase of e-vaporisers carries a maximum fine of $2,000. 
  
  

Fire Safety Act 1993

• When a fire hazard is detected, SCDF will issue the Fire Hazard Abatement Notice (FHAN) under Section 28 of the Fire Safety Act 1993, to the responsible entity. A FHAN is a written warning to the responsible entity to abate the fire hazard within a specified period. If the fire hazard is not addressed, a Notice of Offence (NOO) will be issued to inform the responsible entity to rectify the offence before an offer to compound the offence is made. 
  
  
• A NOO may also be directly issued to the responsible entity if the nature of the fire safety infringement is very serious, such as shutting off the water supply to the hose reels of the entire building. Upon rectification, composition fines up to $5,000 may be imposed on the responsible entity. Otherwise, prosecutorial action may be taken if they fail to rectify the fire hazard as required in the NOO. The offence carries a fine of up to $10,000 or a jail term of up to 6 months, or both. In the case of a continuing offence, it carries a further fine of up to $1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.