6-12-2023 (SINGAPORE) Singaporean authorities are intensifying efforts to combat criminal activities occurring in vacant industrial buildings, particularly those being utilized as hideouts by illegal immigrants. In a joint operation on December 5, the Singapore Police Force and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), with support from JTC Corporation, targeted the Sungei Kadut industrial estate area to root out unauthorized individuals.
Following the completion of the operation, members of the media were granted access to the sites where law enforcement officers conducted their thorough searches. While no arrests were made during the operation, officials discovered compelling evidence suggesting illicit activities within a vacant building in the area, including signs of a potential drug den and a concealed drain measuring approximately 90cm wide and 2m high being used as a hideout.
Situated about 100m from a former two-storey factory building surrounded by a fence and locked gates, the concealed drain was accessible through a metal manhole cover. Inside, metal steps led to a complex network of dark passages where law enforcement discovered damp clothes hanging on a nylon string, a single mattress on a makeshift bed comprising wooden planks, and various items such as plastic bottles and a small medicine vial.
Plastic bags and pieces of cloth were found stuffed into nearby plastic pipes, presumably to prevent water seepage. The first 80m from the manhole revealed more clothing items hung up to dry, duffel bags, and a bicycle without a wheel, creating a challenging and unpleasant environment marked by a stale, foul smell.
Above ground, signs of potential hideouts for illegal immigrants were evident in a nearby vacant factory building. Cigarette butts, beer cans, and tissue paper littered the ground, while large holes carved into the walls suggested preparations for a quick escape during a raid.
During the operation, the police deployed their K-9 unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) to scour the area for individuals possibly in hiding. Another vacant building nearby indicated signs of drug-related activities, prompting the discovery of suspected controlled drugs, drug paraphernalia, and knives, leading to the involvement of the Central Narcotics Bureau.
Assistant Commissioner Ang Eng Seng, Commander of Woodlands Division, emphasized that the December 5 operation exemplifies the collaborative efforts of the police and government agencies in combating unlawful activities. Earlier figures released by ICA in 2023 revealed that 57 illegal immigrants were arrested in 2022, indicating a consistent trend compared to previous years.
Entering waterways, such as drains, without approval is illegal, and offenders may face fines of up to $3,000. Additionally, those found guilty of wilful trespass on property may be fined up to $1,000. The crackdown on criminal activities underscores the authorities’ commitment to maintaining public safety and preserving the integrity of industrial areas.
