In a multi-agency enforcement operation led by the Criminal Investigation Department yesterday, 175 persons (comprising 84 men and 91 women) were arrested for a variety of criminal offences such as gang-related activities, immigration offences, illegal employment, peddling of contraband cigarettes, vice-related activities, consumption of controlled drugs, disorderly behaviour, and offences under the Poisons Act and Medicines Act.

The operation, which lasted for more than 12 hours, saw more than 400 officers from the Singapore Police Force, the Central Narcotics Bureau, the Singapore Civil Defence Force, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, the Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Customs and the Health Sciences Authority working together. The multi-agency operation covered Geylang and public entertainment districts including Orchard Road and St James Power Station. The arrests were made at various locations including entertainment outlets, food outlets, hotels, lodging houses, near MRT stations and along the Lorongs in Geylang. Apart from criminal offences, fire safety violations were also detected.

Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Ng Boon Gay said, “This is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that our streets are free from crime and disorder. As I have mentioned previously, there is no safe haven for criminals. We will continue to conduct such operations. All persons arrested will be appropriately dealt with by the law.”

Investigations against those arrested are ongoing.