23-10-2023 (SINGAPORE) In a large-scale 11-day operation in Geylang, 50 individuals are under investigation for a range of alleged offences, including illegal gambling and vice activities. This comprehensive operation was spearheaded by the Bedok Police Division and saw the collaboration of various agencies, including the Criminal Investigation Department, Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), Singapore Customs, Land Transport Authority, and Singapore Food Agency.
The operation spanned from September 29 to October 9, with the primary objective of cracking down on illicit activities within the region, as per the police announcement made on Monday.
Out of the 50 individuals involved, ranging from 21 to 73 years old, 47 were males, and three were females. The elderly individual, aged 73, was part of a group of 24 males and a female apprehended for gambling-related offences on September 29. This followed a police and ICA raid on a unit within an industrial building on Sims Avenue, which resulted in the confiscation of over $4,000 in cash, along with paraphernalia related to gambling.
Two more men, aged 29 and 38, are currently under investigation after HSA, CNB, and ICA officers conducted thorough searches of Geylang streets from October 3 to October 5. During these searches, they discovered unregistered health products, including cough syrup and various sexual enhancement products, with an estimated value exceeding $11,000.
Additionally, the authorities carried out enforcement operations against an unlicensed massage establishment, users of non-compliant active mobility devices, and unlawful societies in the vicinity.
Investigations into all 50 individuals are still ongoing.
The police, in a statement, emphasised their “zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities” and pledged to take stringent actions against those who blatantly disregard the law. They also affirmed their commitment to collaborating with other enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against unlawful activities, while simultaneously bolstering community relations to ensure the safety and security of the neighbourhood.
